Ground cover to stand up to ivy.

[maslinpan]

We have a bed under a copper beech hedge which suffers from ivy, brambles, shade and not brilliant soil. There's a lot of geranium providing ground cover, but I would like some alternatives which could hold their own and spread quickly.

Vinca?

Euphorbia - the common robbae variety - will do well and definitely hold its own. But it can take over if you don’t keep on top of it.