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How about broad beans they quite like overwintering interspersed with some garlic.

Thanks for all your suggestions but I've changed my mind about growing anything there because the chicken still uses it as her daytime run. I've been using it as a giant compost bin and dumping the grass cuttings in there. My new plan is to skim off the top soil and compost and use it to top up the veg beds in winter.
I do have another, not quite so shady area that will be ready for planting soon, so I'll use some of your suggestions there.