It crossed my mind, following my negative equity brainwave post that some comparative costing would be informative. In absolute terms, a 50 metre run of mixed country hedge plants would cost about £80 plus VAT. It would take one unpractised person less than a day to plant. Other than clipping, its maintenance costs are about zero, and it should last for at least 100 years before it gets patchy and needs a hedgelayer's services (a yew hedge costs more, but if well cared for it will last ten times as long before any renovation is required). For the accountants amongst you, an opportunity cost approach (namely what do I lose/could have instead if I plant a hedge) is instructive. The same length of panel fencing, including the necessary uprights, but ignoring concrete or ground spikes would be £875 plus VAT and not counting labour. And one unpractised person would never get it done in a day (or two). Without any disrespect to the large discount chain I got the pricing from, your fence would be lucky to last 10-15 years. Don't even think about brick (or stone) - the same run would cost you at least £12,000 and would probably not last as long as the hedge unless it got re-pointed once or twice over the next 100 years. And I have not even mentioned graffiti (unlike brick walls I see all over the place, you do not get it on hedging). Watch your plants grow and enjoy.