Inspiration for secret garden...

[Mumofasleepthief]

We have a triangular patch of dead space behind the shed at moment. Think it’s around 5 m long by 2 ish at its widest point, there’s a small bank down to shed and conifers along back. Kids love the idea of a secret garden back there but is poor dry soil with the conifers overhang so just looking for a bit of inspiration.... did have a metal framed hammock up there so was my quite space but it broke at weekend so figure we should maybe do something properly with it. Husband a kids also “helpfully” decided to weed and rake it over (I had scattered wild flower seeds a few weeks ago). Will try and post picture when home.

What I would do soak the whole lot, cover the whole thing in two layers of cardboard, wet it liberally and then shove a whole load of ornamental bark down. It looks like you have a sort of ditch at the fence, I would plant through the cardboard and bark into that as it seems to be the most exposed area and likely to get rain. I'd then probably plant up mostly green and white, shade lovers so hostas, solomon's seal, lily of the valley maybe a dicentra alba, sweet cicely (remember to deadhead!) or another umbellifer. Along the fence I'd train a pinkish clematis and on the right hand side (exposed to the field), a rambling rose that will likely scramble up the conifers. In the actual area I'd plant in pots, find a nice looking sun lounger and I'd be happy.

Ferns are a good shout in planters although most like it quite damp as well as shady, if possible.

If you want some striking colour, annual begonias (the round leafed bedding type or the pointy-leaved trailing variety) do well in shade.
As do fuchsias - upright or trailing varieties. You can get hardy fuchsias too which ought to come back next year although maybe not if you have a prolonged Scottish winter! Do you get a lot of snow?

These are about the only two annuals I can think of that truly tolerate shade and will give you a good show of colour. Most annuals need sun/partial sun.

Cranesbill geranium can do shade and is very easy to grow and divide (stick a spade in). It can spread a bit. Cut back quite hard after flowering for another flush of flowers.

Other shady suggestions in this link:

plants for shade

I've got some tellima grandiflora aka fringe cups that do well in the shade - chuck a bit of compist/horse manure in the planting hole and off you go. They have honey scented flowers too. They are perennials as well. Also jacobs ladder tolerate shade and have lovely blue/violet flowers - also perennial. You could put some gravel down and have pots there as well and a seat - would be a lovely secret garden!