Twelve tasks

Twelve tasks
1 Be hard-hearted: If you want holly you will have to protect the berries from birds. Cover laden sprigs with horticultural fleece or muslin. If the sprigs are left on the tree until the last minute the berries will still be fit for wildlife after

Garden events
Your guide to the week's gardening events, up and down the country Jan 6 Start the year by enrolling at Sarah Raven's Garden and Cookery School in Sussex. Courses for new and seasoned gardeners, cooks and flower arrangers start at the end of Feb (0845

Butcher's Broom
This British native thrives in shade and its evergreen leaves and scarlet berries brighten up the sombre winter scene, writes Mary Keen Butcher's broom, or Ruscus aculeatus, is weird. Like asparagus, it belongs to the lily family, although you would