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Geoff Hamilton, presenter of TV’s Gardeners’ World, telling me about the competition he had every year with his twin brother Tony to see which of them could serve up the biggest number of different home-grown ingredients for their Christmas dinner

Last year we made a momentous decision. After many years of buying real Christmas trees to decorate our home over the festive period, we decided to buy a fake one.Previously we had endless scenarios like this:"Are you going to get the tree

wreath virtually impossible). I realised this as I ventured into my garden and settled for hanging my creation on the wall, rather than risk someone stealing it from my front gate. It doesn’t really say ‘Christmas’ in the way I had hoped.Having never made

Christmas is lurking just around the corner, like a well-oiled middle manager holding a sprig of mistletoe at an office party. So, this is my last blog for Gardeners' World before we are all swept away on a breaking wave of tinselled overindulgence

It is December (already) and Christmas is lurking around the corner like a tinsel clad, benevolent bogeyman dripping with cranberry sauce and liqueur chocolates.You know that perennial question “what would you like for Christmas”? It was all so very

Being a gardener, and partial to the odd gift, I like to think myself someone who knows a thing or two about Christmas gifts for gardeners. But I'm amazed at how often we all get it wrong. Over the years I've received some great presents: a pair

chippings or compost.Where I live Christmas trees must be left in a brown bin (for food and garden waste), to ensure they will be recycled, otherwise they end up in landfill. I know this because last year I called the council's recycling department and asked

that one of the most satisfying things in gardening is a well built, well maintained compost heap, but it is a bit much when people get smug about what is really just a pile of rotting vegetation. I do not claim to be an expert but what we make ends up

I always really enjoy Christmas. I enjoy it for all the smiles, the people, the happiness, and of course the Christmas pudding. True, as a veggie there is never any turkey on my plate, and as one who is none too fond of sprouts, they too were off

, restaurants, and - ahem - bird tables.I'm not sure how I'd feel if I attracted rats to my garden. I don't mind them (that is to say, I'm not offended by their existence) and I'd never kill one, but I wouldn't like them in my garden (it's only 4m², after all