Can you attach a photo? Where do you live? Climate.

Looks like viburnum?One of the most common viburnums is laurustinus or Viburnum tinus. It's a really tough, evergreen plant. It originated in the Mediterranean and once established, can stand up to anything. It makes a great hedge, but needs a prune in spring. It has little clusters of tiny pink buds that open out into white flowers. It makes a fine shrub but is mainly grown as a great hedging plant. It grows well either in the sun or dense shade.

Flufftop, there have been many good suggestions in this discussion. You already have two 'WOW' factors in your front yard...your lovely cottage and the tree. Whatever you do needs to link these two with the remainder of the garden and that's not an easy thing to do when you have a variety of ideas coming at you from all directions. Walk around your neighbourhood, go to Diggers for inspiration but also go to your local nursery and ask if they have a garden advisory service. Another option is to find a local garden designer (www.aildm.com.au) and have them visit your garden. They have the knowledge to tie all your ideas and thoughts together. They will suggest ways to incorporate all, or some, of your wishes into a unified design which can be implemented immediately or over a period of time to suit your budget. It will cost you a fee for an hour or two ,or more if you get a plan drawn up, but will save you money and disappointment because you'll be eliminating guess work and mistakes. Best wishes Arthur

I’ve had a look into the privet and it does fit the brief. Interestingly (and alarmingly!), my husband has developed an asthma type allergy that has become severe over recent months - a common cause of the privet!!! My impressingly fast growing plant is definitely getting pulled out as it doesn’t seem so impressive anymore...