The quiet beauty of winter sets the stage in this garden, where topiary shapes and the borrowed landscape are the main performers

John and Jenny Brett have created an all-year garden design at St Mary’s, combining formal plant structures with colourful insect-friendly perennials, but in winter, when dusted with white and dancing with shadows, the garden shimmers

Adding a magical element to any garden on a frosty winter’s day, topiary offers interest all year round, as well as the chance to demonstrate some creative clipping, says Jen Harbrow, senior gardener at the National Trust’s Hinton Ampner in Hampshire

The first glimpse of Cressy Hall, appearing as you round a bend on the narrow serpentine drive that winds to the rear of the house, is a moment of wonder. There stands a fine red-brick building of han

A good time to visit The Old Rectory in Doynton is as dusk falls on a frosty December evening. Driving in through the gate, you’ll be cheered by the sight of two illuminated Portuguese laurel cylinder

REAL readers' gardens! Putting the garden to bed ...