Jeff Layman wrote:
Sarcococca
hookeriana looks like it could be a good natural-looking evergreen
groundcover for the roadside strip - except that likes shade.

According to the RHS Dictionary of Gardening, "Sarcococca grows best in
partial shade, but will tolerate full sun provided there is sufficient
moisture in the soil". It also days that they flourish in a neutral to
alkaline, humus-rich soil, although frequently tolerating a dry, calcareous
soil. I grow mine in a 12" pot in partial shade, and it does very well.

Thanks for this, clarifying Sarcococca. I know the soil is more acid
than alkaline, so it might have a tough time, but if it tolerates dry
soil then it would look good. I think I'll keep this in reserve, should
whatever I choose fail.

Not sure, but Hedera comes in so many forms there must be something! What
about an Ilex? Something like the crenata cultivars can be pretty dwarf, or
at least slow growing. Even bog-standard holly can be kept in bounds by
trimming it.

With something tumbling from the top of the fence, I'ld like as much of
the tumbling to be visible as possible, so the lower plant really needs
to be more of a ground-hugger, rather than only ground-cover.

I doubt the council would be too concerned about plants in their space
provided they represented no danger, and they didn't have to do any
maintenance (I'd be more worried about spray drift if they used weedkillers
to keep the pathside growth down).

Given me a fright there, Jeff! I thought I would be the only one using
glyphosate in and around our front gate! But way out here, in the back
of beyond, lost in the sticks, an absolute spider-web of lanes, I don't
think they bother. And I think there'd be an outcry if they did. The
verges are full of snowdrops at the moment, the honeysuckle is beginning
to leaf, tiny violets appear later, as well as numerous other dainty
little flowers.

Eddy.