Big border bushes and evergreen ideas for this picture?

[NewspaperTaxis]

I had cut back the 'hedgerow' thing - it wasn't really that, rather a load of flimsy bushes that just spread really and encroached on the lawn - to make it more in line with how it was many years ago. And to plant some daffodils in the borders for spring time. However, there's a big oak tree nearby out of picture that will shed its leaves and dainty little plants will get smothered by this stuff whereas it wasn't a problem for the old bushes.
I guess I'm looking for some larger, more interesting and maybe colourful bushy plants to go in the foreground... Possibly some evergreens so they don't just go to tat in the winter months. I really struggle to visualise this stuff however. Does anyone have any ideas? Or to post a generic picture to show the direction I should be going in?

I would bite the bullet take all that out and put in a nice Hornbeam hedge. The ‘hedge’ you have will keep coming back to haunt whatever you plant in front of it.

Hornbeam is deciduous so will go brown in winter, but holds its dead leaves as coverage resulting in a lovely seasonal change. Will fit nicely with the garden giving a traditional edge. Very classy. Easy to shape, prune and maintain.

Then I would put shrubs or herbaceous border in front of that.

Here’s one in winter.

In my fantasy garden, if I was to put a new hedge in it would be hazelnuts - I'd love to pick my own. No idea how practical they are though!

To answer your question, hellebores are evergreen & robust & flower in the winter.
Also Sarcococca - fragrant box - is evergreen & flowers in winter.

Agree about replacing the hedge if possible for a nice backdrop. I have hornbeam too and it's lovely. Choisya is nice as a shrub- aka Mexican orange blossom. Beautifully scented and you can get a golden leaved variety.

Hornbeam's a good call. I have beech, yew and hornbeam hedges. Hornbeam's lovely, clips well and looks good all year round. It depends if the area in front is sun or shade,and what the soil is like. Too many evergreens can make a garden look gloomy- you need a mix of evergreen and deciduous if you go down the shrub route.
Viburnum plicatum 'Mariesii' would give you spring flowers and a lace cap hydrangea serrata 'Bluebird' would do summer shrub presence. Oaks are deep-rooted so don't interfere too much with anything planted under them.In fact rhododendrons under oaks is a fairly classic combo.

First thing I thought, was that I would take out all of that hedge. It will never be beautiful. There are so many beautiful hedges - you could have a good size hornbeam hedge in three years if you plant now, feed, and prune at right times.

Many thanks! Bit sentimental about the hedge as it doesn't always look like that, I cut it back during the drought and usually it is greener and fuller, albeit not in the winter months. Grows white berries at a particular time, maybe autumn - not sure really what kind of 'hedge' it is.
Is hornbeam good for birds and wildlife generally?
Thanks for the other suggestions!

I always wanted just pictures of a few gardens laid out, arrows pointing to the plants, also showing what they look like throughout the year not just at the summer peak - can't find any kind of book or pamphlet like that. Most websites just show a close up of the flowering plant with no context, seems to me.

What is the aspect of the bed - you will need different stuff depending on whether you have sun on the ground or shade?

Personally think the hedge is fine, it's a boundary and then you'll plant in front.

I would go herby and fragrant, edible.

Bay, lavender, Thyme, Stem red currants, Stem Raspberry, Rosemary, chives. You can underplant the stems with lower herbs. Echinacea and chamomile for colour