Good time to line up a new hedgerow

In the garden
Just two more weeks and the light starts to elongate slowly. The winter solstice is booked for December 27 at 0327. I wonder who will stay up for that!
We are fortunate in our mild and green corner of the UK that winter can often be shorter than further north. In a shroud of optimism I've convinced myself that after the solstice we have around eight weeks of winter left. I say this because I've started to notice some daffodils and crocuses powering upwards already.
In the spirit of making the most of the conditions and living in the moment it’s a good time to contemplate planting a hedgerow. These are unique to Britain and a rich part of our history. This might be to replace a boundary fence that blows down or just to create a habitat and watch busy sparrows fire recklessly into it as if from a rifle. It's cold and wet enough for hedging shrubs to establish their root system and get off to a healthy start in mid-winter.
There are multiple reasons to plant a hedge ranging from windbreaks, privacy, ecological diversity, security or even leaving a legacy. Think of it as a woodland in a straight line.
They contain trees, shrubs, flowers and fungi. From a gardeners perspective, you can choose which combination suits your needs.
Hawthorn is popular for blossom, berries and height. Out of interest it’s also the slowest burning wood. Blackthorn and holly have similar traits Hazel, ash and beech work well too. Sea buckthorn and sloes can be incorporated for culinary purposes.
Of the shrubs, dog and field roses spiral aimlessly upwards Honeysuckle and wild clematis compete for light and brambles become a useful fruit producer.
Nearer to the ground herbaceous plants and grasses can flourish. Sweet cicely, alexanders and ferns will give some colour and crate hiding places for insects and molluscs to start the ecological cycle. Speedwell, primroses, and foxgloves can offset oat grass with colour.
So often in spring and summer hedgerows are greatly admired, so why not have some of that at home if you can.

On the plot
One of the bonuses of winter is that the weeds aren't invading at Medieval levels so hoeing over them is easier and more effective at disrupting them in the long-term. Keeping things weed free helps veg grow and be more visible.
It’s a time now for making the most of the time not taken up by the usually needy weeds. Harvest Brussels sprouts by twisting them downwards and eating straight away. Celeriac, parsnips and beetroot are also ready to bring in. Wash therm in the water butts before bringing in though, as dripping mud all over the kitchen floor often offends and can cause injury I’ve learned.
Large rhubarb plants can be divided now to give them a new lease of life and energise the tubers with a shovelful of the well rotted compost you’ve got, either home made or brought in from a reliable stable.
Cut back strawberry plants and give them a clean up by removing dead foliage and keeping them mulched with straw.
Any paths that get cut can have the cuttings dropped into a ready made trench where potatoes might go in spring. You can then start to fill the bottom of it with similar green waste or hummus.
Plant some wild flower seedlings like Marshmallow, Knapweed and large daisies for a wildlife area where you have a clump of waste ground doing nothing.
Organise and wash the pots to make it easier next spring and line them up in a visible place so everyone knows how organised and efficient you are. With one eye on spring emerging get a whetstone from somewhere and sharpen tools with oil. This gives a real sense of satisfaction and is an essential task.