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If you're bearing a grudge against your neighbours, one way to exact revenge is plant a leylandii hedge in your garden. Left unclipped, it could grow to up to 35m high and 5m wide. It will be a haven for garden birds, insects and even the odd mammal

Every now and then I’m asked to host a gardening cruise, and I’ve just returned from the most recent, to Madeira. I’m pleased to report that the fantastically floral island was just as lovely as on my previous visit, years ago.Madeira is one of my

, not exactly a job I lust after!) I am starting to think there could be a market for entire garden shelters which allow natural light through, permit adequate air circulation and wind movement, access to birds and other wildlife... but keep out the rain

fewer ladybirds in my garden this year. I expect they’re missing the aphids, too.Perhaps the birds are obligingly collecting the aphids up for their young, or they've all been parasitised by some wonder wasp. Who knows, maybe it was the hard winter after

the garden she's like a shadow, following closely in your footsteps to see if she can 'help' in any way.Yes, she does get her nose into everything. That's her nature - inquisitive, bold, nosy, but great company. Thankfully she doesn't eat everything in sight

Yesterday at a Gardeners' Question Time recording it was amazing to hear that Eric's Cumbrian plot had only had 5cm of snow. Not so here in Hampshire. The snow is 45-60cm deep and the icicles more than 1m long!What have I been up to during the snowy

that soon lead to rotting.Now, I’m the first person to recommend leaving windfalls for wildlife. They’re usually bruised anyway, so why not let the birds eat them, and allow insects a taste of home-grown produce. Just take care when you’re around them

If I had to describe myself, I'd say I was a nature lover. I'm forever taking the side of birds, insects, amphibians and mammals, and can argue the case for just about any creature, even pests. But at this time of year there is one exception

of Gardeners’ Question Time, talks endlessly about his apple press. His evangelism has converted me to presses, which are a wonderful way to use up those less-than-perfect fruits.You can press the whole apple, but I always chop mine in half, to check

I thought it would be interesting to use this blog as an excuse to find out more about the many slightly eccentric people who have helped make gardening as popular and exciting as it is today so this is the first in an occasional series: if anybody