Archive
-
Date
Which of my garden vegetables can I use for Christmas dinner?
If you’re wondering which of the veg you’ve grown this year can be left in the ground until you need them, there are plenty to choose from. Parsnips, celeriac and carrots could all be added to your Christmas menu straight from your garden, provided
-
Date
Christmas gift ideas for gardeners
Looking for something different for the gardener in your life? Mandy Bradshaw has been searching out some gift ideas Ocean-friendly gardening With so much plastic ending up in the sea, it’s good to see some of it being put to use in a
-
Date
Why cyclamen is the ultimate Christmas plant
The brightly coloured flowers of the houseplant cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) are at their very best at Christmas and adorn many a festive table or are given as gifts. Available in rich shades of dark purple through to red, cerise, pink, and white
-
Date
How to help your feathered friends this festive period
As temperatures start to drop and nature’s pantry runs low, our garden birds need a helping hand to find food, water, and shelter this winter. Here’s our guide to help your feathered friends this festive period. Ditch the diet Food is
-
Date
Spotting red squirrels at Wildwood Devon this winter
Photographer David Chapman tells us about some of the wildlife to spot this month and discovers the county’s home for an endangered species What to spot FIELDFARE Last month I featured the redwing, this month it is the turn of our
-
Date
The fight for territory in Derbyshire this winter
As autumn morphs into winter, bands of marauding thrushes, like the Vikings a thousand years ago, battle against the gales of the North Sea and arrive in Britain. And, like the Vikings, they are here to plunder our rich resources. When we lament
-
Date
Why birds need a little TLC at Christmas time
Read on for a greater understanding of our festive connections with wildlife Snowflakes fall gently past the window. Suddenly a robin appears with a flick of its brown wings and lands on the frozen ground. It notices you watching, but your gaze
-
Date
How to make a Christmas wreath from plants in your garden
When it comes to decorating your home for the festive season look closely at what nature offers us at this time of year. It may be more subtle than during other seasons, but it is just as lovely. Carefully collect and clip foliage, berries, seedheads
-
Date
Recreating the winter collection at The Beale Arboretum in Hadley Wood
As the low sun rises on cold December mornings, The Beale Arboretum transforms into a magical wonderland. Now the autumn foliage has fallen, the spectacular bark and fruits of the deciduous trees and the dramatic forms of evergreen conifers in the
-
Date
Is there such a thing as a partridge in a pear tree? Or a turtle dove?
When putting up your decorations or writing your Christmas cards, have you ever wondered why we associate Robins with Christmas? Maybe you’ve always wondered where ‘the Holly and the Ivy’ came from, or if partridges really do roost in pear trees?
-
Date
10 things to do in the garden this month
10 things to do in the garden during December Winter harvest Many veg growers will be lucky enough to be harvesting sprouts, parsnips, broccoli and kale for Christmas day. If you can refrain from harvesting your veg until the last minute, it
-
Date
What do gardeners need to do in extreme cold weather?
A chief horticulturist shares some winter tips for keen gardeners. When extreme cold weather hits the country, schools, road, bus and rail networks are often affected. Slips and falls can also be a danger for pedestrians when conditions are
-
Date
What Christmas houseplants will celebrity gardeners be displaying this year?
If you’re poised to buy a poinsettia, nudging towards a narcissi or angling for an azalea, leaf through some of our TV gardeners’ favourites for houseplant inspiration this festive season. Joe Swift The garden designer, TV presenter and
-
Date
The pretty posies made from posy of Somerset-sourced foliage and flowers
‘Somerset is just so charming and nostalgic, I love that the tractors trundle past our window, the cows pop their heads over the hedgerows and that the sky is so huge. You never notice the huge skies in Somerset until you go away, but the sky dominates
-
Date
Christmas gifts ideas for children who like gardening
December brings an undeniable sense of excitement to our household each year. I'm very lucky to have four gorgeous granddaughters and choosing Christmas gifts for them is an absolute joy. Their interests are varied and very different from my two sons
-
Date
You must see Jack and the Beanstalk at Manchester Opera House
Fabulous fun for all the family, Jack and the Beanstalk at Manchester Opera House is a must-see this Christmas. ‘My first pantomime‘ is often cited by performers as their gateway experience drawing them to a life on stage. Indeed, the simply brilliant
-
Date
Frameless Marble Arch great to visit with family this Christmas
Take a break from Christmas shopping, or just enjoy a family day out over the holidays at London’s most mind-blowing gallery, Frameless at Marble Arch I spend a lot of time visiting galleries and art exhibitions, and rarely struggle to articulate
