Cambridge University Botanic Garden and Anglesey Abbey.

As the sun continues to refamiliarise itself with the grounds of Hyde Hall, it feels like a very special place to be. Nevertheless, my fortune seems all the greater when so many fresh and interesting projects are currently afoot there. The next few posts will take a look at some of them.

First of all, the Winter Garden. Although fantastic winter flora can be found throughout Hyde Hall -dogwoods and willows, hellebores and bergenias - hitherto it has not had a dedicated winter garden. However, work has already begun to change this, and the Clover Hill team (myself included) set off north to find ideas and inspiration.

Two of the finest winter gardens nearby belong to Cambridge University Botanic Garden and Anglesey Abbey. It is worth noting at this point that I had already visited the former in recent times (post below), but it is remarkable how much change is visible even from December - blossom now upon its Prunus mume (right), and of course bulbs rising through the earth. It clearly illustrates one should never underestimate what can happen within even a single season!

To keep colours burning through the darkest days of the year is a mighty feat. However, winter gardens therefore tend to display colour so brightly and triumphantly that I tend to find them quite overwhelming. Nonetheless, both gardens had views that completely enraptured me - especially Anglesey Abbey's drifts of snowdrops and winter aconites, and its birch grove (right). David the Assistant Head Gardener explained to us that the birches are kept perfectly white with just a simple water hose-down, and by not peeling them!