Enthusiasts leave Christmas decorations up as they try to brighten up winter lockdown months  

Leave up Christmas decorations and keep the halls decked with boughs of holly until February to bring cheer in the dark winter months, English Heritage has said. The charity is appealing to the public to follow the traditions of their medieval ancestors and leave festive decorations up until Candlemas on February 2. Candlemas, which has … Read more

Watching birds at work can brighten up winter, says MONTY DON

Monty revisits one of his classic books, Gardening at Longmeadow, in an occasional series.  Throughout my whole life I’ve kept chickens, and apart from the wonderful flavour of the steady supply of fresh eggs, I value the birds highly as a useful and pretty addition to the garden. They spend their day scratching around the … Read more

Refresh your home for less: A few cheap items can brighten your life

How to refresh your home for less: What to spend £500, £1,000 or £5,000 on for maximum impact inside your property Some households are better off financially thanks to lockdown With more time spent at home, many could be looking to spruce it up We take a look on how to improve your property with … Read more

A tangerine dream: Cheery clivias are the ideal indoor plants to brighten up winter days 

A tangerine dream: Cheery clivias are the ideal indoor plants to brighten up winter days British gardening expert Nigel Colborn, shares advice for thriving clivias They are best as house or conservatory plants, flourishing even in low light He revealed that wild Clivia miniata is the easiest to grow By Nigel Colborn for the Daily Mail … Read more