Best surface for shady garden

[MojoMoon]

I have a small back garden, north facing and heavily shaded. Urban plot so can't do anything about that.

It's currently fully paved but the dark and dampness means moss grows with abandon on the concrete pavers. Water also pools on it in heavy rain

Is there a better ground surface for a north facing shady space? I'd like it to drain better which I think would help the moss growth but are there any materials that are more "moss resistant" than others?

I don't want fine gravel (cat will crap in it) but was wondering if taking it up, laying weed suppressant membrane and then large chip flint with some stepping stones would work better?

Bark chips would be nicer than flint and give you a woodland garden feel. Plant ferns, Hydrangea and Hostas.

I’d go with bark too. Very water absorbent

We have a bark area and a gravel area with pavers in our garden. I find that the bark is a pain as it needs a lot of topping up as it rots over time and gets messy. I think your idea of stepping stones and shingle would work well especially if you mix it up a bit and have some planting in-dispersed.

This is a sunny example but with the right plants (e.g. acers and hostas etc) it would look good in the shade too https://www.bhg.com/gardening/design/styles/drought-tolerant-gravel-garden/

We also get mushrooms appear in the bark despite membrane under. The shingle area has remained clear.

How about slate chippings? I have them at the front of my house with lavenders in and a small solar fountain in the centre, although obviously you'd need to choose more shade-friendly plants for yours.

ALTHOUGH - also think about how you use the garden. A paved area is completely usable, even though it can get slippy when wet. A shingle or slate or bark chipped area is more for looking at so you'd need to make sure you also had a small space you could actually use.

The corner that get the most (the only) light is at the back so was thinking shingle/slate chips with stepping stones and planting (ferns and shady plants) leading to a small fully paved area in that corner just big enough for table and four chairs to be placed on.

I feel like bark would be soggy pretty quickly? It's a damp as well as dark little garden. Suspect the cat would use it as a giant litter tray as well. With stone chips, am hoping he will just use the covered litter tray I will have put for him in a discreet area...

Grass? I know it gets mossy but still looks ok when mown. No goog for walking on so would need stepping stones.

Hever castle has wet rocky areas, quite shaded - raised wall with wet area behind, moss, ferns etc
Perhaps you could raise one area leaving other area wetter and plant ferns and hostas, shade loving plants.

(I’m not really expecting you to recreate the pic 😂)

Thanks @Bubbles254 . Some great ideas I will steal for my little garden . I had discounted gravel but will think again .

@PinkRobotDuck I have been thinking of adding some height for additional space and a bit of drama in a tiny garden! I went to see a stumpery (all the rage for the Victorians) and was thinking of finding a gnarled tree stump to plant ferns in but building a rocky wet outcrop might work better (also no idea where to acquire a suitable tree stump).

Garden is too small for grass, I think, it's only 7m long and once a bit of paving for table, some raised planting areas etc and the heat pump tucked in one corner, it would be a tiny patch of grass which seems a bit odd to have.

What about a moss lawn? Bit higher maintenance than shingle or slate (needs watering in dry spells) but could look lovely and green.