"Rod" wrote after...
"Paul O'Grady" wrote
Thanks everyone. Seems to be the answer. I had discounted a climber
because it seems like a substantial bush only very tall. Will have a
closer look tomorrow and see what it's climbing on.

What you're looking at is the mature phase, several plants like ivy and
holly have a mature flowering/fruiting phase and a juvenile - making
vegetative growth phase. This plant probably grew up a rotten stump that's
now fallen over and left the bushy ivy at ground level. If you look at a
mature holly, you'll see the top part of the plant doesn't have the spiny
protection of the lower juvenile branches. You will see different foliage
top and bottom on several conifers like Chameacyparis species, with the
flowers at the top.

I understand that if you take cuttings from the mature growth then you get a
bush ivy that will never put out clinging branches and which will
flower/fruit every year. Very popular in Victorian times I believe.

--
Regards
Bob H
17mls W. of London.UK