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

Lynn Farram and the congregation of Christ Church, Norris Green, Liverpool

Wildlife gardening is hugely beneficial, both for biodiversity and for gardeners. By providing food, shelter and nest sites for a wide range of species, you get the opportunity to engage with the natu

Nadia Shaikh seeks good company for a search-and-gorge to get her through the ruthless darkness of the winter months

Plundering a local byway for a spot of festive foraging, John Lewis-Stempel finds all life proliferating in the multitudinous micro-habitat of the winter hedgerow

Discover what makes these plants popular around Christmas time