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Our gardens our becoming increasingly important places for wild animals and especially birds. By providing a regular supply of food and water, we can help birds survive the challenging winter months, when they can struggle to survive.One way you can help is by combining pine cone...

Birds love fat cakes and at this time of year they are just what they need to give them energy and keep warm. But the feeding balls needn't be shop bought; you can use all sorts of kitchen scraps such as cheese and dry porridge oats. Just mix with melted lard or suet and set in t...

Bird feeders designed to stick to the window are all well and good, but can you be sure birds will be brave enough to fly that close to the house? Follow these simple steps and the birds will be queuing up to offer you a close encounter.Bird tablePostWindow feederBird seedall yea...

These pretty outdoor tea light holders are made from birch logs, which you can often obtain from tree surgeons. The best size to go for is around 10cm in diameter, which is ideal for holding a tea light. Choose different heights for your tea light holders, to emphasize their rust...

A contemporary twist on the hanging basket, these striking aluminium cones make a real statement, yet their chic looks belie the amazing simplicity of their construction. The aluminium sheets come in a variety of textured finishes and are easy to cut and bend, so a whole clutch o...

Arisaema speciosum is an unusual perennial from the eastern Himalayas. It grows from fat, knobbly tubers, which are best planted singly in large pots for stability.You will probably find a shoot already emerging from one end of the rhizome, so plant it with this just poking throu...

This heart-shaped frame will create instant impact for Valentine's day without breaking the bank. You can make your topiary frame with a metal coat hanger, a cane and some garden wire. Ivy plantTerracotta potWire coat hangerThin garden wire25cm length of garden caneCompostall ye...

House martins traditionally make their cup-shaped nests from mud, which they pack together under the eaves of houses.In dry summers, muddy pools and puddles can be in short supply, so give house martins a helping hand by making them a home-made papier-mâché nest box, as recommend...

You can create a wildlife corner in eventhe smallest garden, and it doesn't have to be a patch of unmown grass or a scrambling scrub thicket. A single, large container will suffice, containing plants to attract bees, butterflies, hoverflies and other insects. The display will pro...

Strawberry plants will be in growth to flower and fruit four to six weeks ahead of outdoor plants if potted up now and brought into a cool greenhouse or conservatory. Keep them well lit, ventilated and watered to prevent the plants becoming leggy and drawn. 3 strawberry plants (p...