Ground cover for shaded, damp, thin soil area?

[chemenger]

Any suggestions? I’m trying to reduce the work required in our largish garden and I have just cleared a small border between a lawn and a path which is shaded and damp. We have horrible heavy soil, but I will be adding a lot of compost and soil improver. The other thing is that this is slug paradise so resistance to them would be good.

How about planting creeping thyme. It's Hardy, fantastic for pollinators, takes a good bashing and makes little difference. I read that in Edwardian times creeping thyme was very popular used as ground cover. It would be grown in the same way as a grass lawn and when walked on, it would release it fragrance. Take a look at some photos, is that something you'd be interested in?

That looks amazing! Just the sort of thing I want! I meant to say that adding some colour would be good. We have a reasonable number of bees in the garden but encouraging more would be great.

That's really lovely - I'm off to google it.

It does look like a fine example of how nice creeping thyme can grow to be, doesn't it.
I planted a plug plant into a shallow round terracotta pot last week so I'm really looking forward to it blooming. It does take a while to get going but once it does it can be left to its own devices, doesn't need tlc, and really rewards.

That looks lovely.

I was going to suggest 2 things.

Pulmonaria, which is currently flowering and which has lovely silver spotted leaves all year.

Also Bugle (Ajuga) which gives excellent creeping ground cover and lovely purple flowers in spring.

Both are wildflowers to tough as old boots.