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, it was a Leyland cypress, Cupressocyparis leylandii, a tree so almost totally sterile for wildlife that a plastic Christmas tree would probably house more biological diversity. Secondly, it was so close to a building that any previous advantage of shelter

Manx wrens which were hunted in their hundreds by troops of 'idle' men and boys on Christmas Day, when it was believed a wicked enchantress returned in feathered form, after evading a doughty knight by transforming and flying off through his fingers

hibernaculums for creatures: last year's Christmas tree branches are bundled behind pots for insects and there's a cardboard box full of grass clippings. When the trees in the local park lose their leaves I'll be gathering bags of them to cram into corners

was harmonious until Christmas, when my partner and I left for a week to visit family (making sure there was plenty of food for the birds in our absence).When we returned, we saw that the blackbird had rather taken to the garden, and we soon noticed he had

plant debris over the top, for extra shelter. In January I added the branches of the Christmas tree I used to make my bee hotel. Then in March, when I'd had quite enough of looking at it and was convinced the frogs had taken shelter elsewhere, I set

get a moment, I'll be putting the new grow bag out with fresh tomato plants, so they can sit in there, if they like. It just won't have the attractive topping of dead foliage and Christmas tree branches, which I have lived with for long enough

Christmas'Purple fountain grass is a real show-stopper. Best in its own tall container, it has graceful stems and red-tinged squirrel-tail flowers that fade to beige in autumn. It will need frost protection in winter.Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'Where to see

flowering times:10 best varietiesIf planted in a sheltered, south-facing spot, 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation' will be in flower by Christmas. While most daffodils in bloom at this time of year are usually small, this variety has large, windmill-style flowers

Feeding the birdsFeeding birds used to be a winter activity, from Christmas until the first spring flowers appeared. But birds need our help in the summer months just as much as during the winter.Because birds breed in the spring and early summer