HEDGES? Fast growing and hardy?

[Rumpel]

Can anyone give me advice as to which hedges are hardy and fast growing. I live in Scotland and can be very cold and windy here and the soil quality is poor also. Want them to keep the kids in the front gradne as we are not allowed to erect fences!

Beech or Hawthorn maybe think though am not sure about Scotland (live in Norfolk).
Some good info here
www.hedgesdirect.co.uk/?gclid=CPmAyKf_1JYCFQXO1AodaiWS2A

We have a Laurel hedge that was planted about 10 years ago and is now about 10 feet high despite annual pruning. We're in Cheshire though, so don't know how it would respond to the Scottish weather!

Thanks a lot - I'll check out the hedge guide and pick the brains of the local nursery staff.

We had 2 failed attempts at Leylandii hedges (died both times) and now have a laurel hedge at 6-7' (about 3 years growth from very small starters) which we want to get another foot high then thicken out.

We got it online from Ashridge Trees