Yesterday my brother came to visit. He brought with him a young holm
oak (Quercus ilex) which had been grown by one of his friends. It's a
perfectly nice young tree and about 2 feet high.

My garden is not a pocket handkerchief but it's not exactly rolling
parkland either. According to my RHS plant encyclopedia, holm oak
grows to a height of around 80 feet and has a spread of 70 feet. A
tree of this size would be completely out of place in my garden.

I don't want to offend my brother by throwing the tree away or giving
it to someone else. I gather it is possible to keep holm oak trimmed
as a shrub. Would it make an attractive shrub of, say, four or five
feet in height? Or would it be better if the plant just died a
convenient death?

My brother normally visits only once a year, so a white (or even dark
greyish) lie wouldn't be too hard, but I'd rather make use of the
plant if possible.