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as edibles like blackcurrant, beetroot and hop. The long hawthorn hedge make me crave one of my own – how much time could I spend searching it for insects, nesting birds and hedgehogs?Best of all were the apple trees in full blossom, which is a remarkable

's Monument, a spectacular ball-topped pillar, one of the island's most prominent landmarks. Returning from various forays one day it was obvious that a cow from the neighbouring field had found its way through the ancient hawthorn hedge, and there were deep

the association secretary. We need all the help we can get at the moment. Cue: a wren.I love this pugnacious little bird, with its haughty stance and deafening 'chip, chip, chip' call from the inside of the dense hawthorn hedge, and it's nothing if not a help

'll finally start being nice to the female and they'll choose to nest here. (Our lack of trees or hedges won't pose a problem for nesting blackbirds, apparently, as they will nest on the ground if conditions are suitable.)The female has already started looking

, and you can also buy plastic grids, under which grass and other low-growing plants can grow. Any paved areas can be sloped gently to direct water into a border, lawn, hedge or tree, and you can also use materials that allow rainwater to penetrate

an expanse of lawn, or at the base of a hedge.'Dutch Master'Double-flowered daffodils aren't everyone's cup of tea, but 'Cheerfulness' is lovely. It has a deep, rich yellow colour and a sweet scent to match. Flowering in April, it reaches 40cm in height, so

tomentosaCommon box, Buxus sempervirens, can be grown as a tree or shrub, but its dense habit makes it ideal for clipping as a hedge or a topiarised shape. It's a versatile shrub, suitable for growing in small gardens.Common box, Buxus sempervirens

is exposed, you might wish to put up fences, screens or even hedging. When the kit arrives, check thoroughly that all components are there, and read the instructions carefully.Once the structure is up, add a path, if necessary, using paving slabs, bricks

To Soicherons, Villars-Dompierre, in the Cote d'Or region of France for two weeks and the wildlife here is subtly different to that in East Dulwich. For one thing we are surrounded by large flowery meadows, hedges dripping with Mirabelle plums