What might survive in this spot?

Beebop164

I'd love some ideas for this bed I have made. 
I have lots of mature trees and garden is north facing, the bed is East facing and gets a little sunshine in the evening..through gaps in the trees. I also contend with monster slugs and squirrels...so I kind of go with what survives rather than what I would like🙂.

There is a planted Christmas tree, a Hawthorn cutting and some type of Cotoneaster there already. I considered honeysuckle but I think I need ground cover/mid height?

Heucheras seen to do ok but I have a lot of them already. I'd prefer not to plant ivy there...I'll save that for the bottom of the garden which is really more like woodland.

Sideways photos again..my apologies!


 

Lizzie27

I'd take the Christmas tree out for starters, it's likely to grow very big and very fast and will cause no end of bother (past experience!!). The hawthorn and cotoneaster will also grow big in time so you need to take that into account. Are you aiming for a woodland look or did you want more flowers? One of the smaller coloured acers would look pretty with perhaps some hellebores/snowdrops/daffs for spring colour underneath. Christmas box is evergreen, copes with shade and smells amazing in late winter/early spring.
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Beebop164

Just had a look at Christmas Box, that might be an option thank you!

I love hellebores too but haven't had much luck with them (yet!)

I know what you mean about the Christmas tree... however it is kind of replacing something similar which died. The garden is 90 foot long and the far end is very empty, I can't get much to grow there so I thought I'd give it a chance!😊

Lizzie27

@Beebop164 Good luck then, I think hellebores can be a bit fussy where they live, the white Christmas rose ones in particular, but I find the hybrid ones from Hayloft do very well for me.

Loxley

More ferns and plenty of Eurybia divaricata would look nice.

Fairygirl

Osmanthus will grow there. Taller perennials which like shade will also do well to give you a mid height layer. Polemonium [Jacob's Ladder] Dicentra [it has a new name now but you'll still find it under that name] Camassias - which are bulbs, and like soil which doesn't dry out, An Actea will also like those conditions. They make big clumps when established. Hardy geraniums will always be handy.
Hostas would also be good, but they're terrible slug magnets, so it depends on how much effort you want!
I'd also get some wires on that fence and put a nice early clematis in there - a white one to stand out against the shade. Lots are perfectly happy in that aspect. 
I'm assuming it's quite damp shade as it gets very little sun to dry it out.