This time of year represents big business–and exhaustion–for the producers of festive fare, from crackers to hellebores to ham. Jane Wheatley visits six stalwarts who are flat out right now

Rosie Irving celebrates an easy-going shrub that gives so much for so little effort

With over 30 years of horticultural experience, including stints at Waddesdon Manor and Chequers, Richard Ernst now leads the team at Norfolk’s Houghton Hall. He oversees the estate’s five-acre walled

Sustain beauty all winter with smart planting and bold choices

Ivy flowers have gone over and now berries are starting to form. Avoid cutting these back and allow them to develop as a food source for birds. Ivy berries ripen in late winter and are often not eaten

Winter’s here – the perfect time to tackle repairs and revamp spaces without breaking the bank