PHOTOS: ALAMY/ED BROWN WILDLIFE; PAUL DEBOIS; GETTY/JACKY PARKER
For gardeners, February is a month of impatience, of snowdrops, of pussy willow and the first buzzing of the bravest queen bumblebees. I’m sure our wildlife is equally keen for spring to begin, but we must wait a bit longer, as snow may still be around the corner. Spring is so close! As the birds tell us each morning, we are on the home straight.
In my garden, the first flowers are a sign that temperatures are mild enough to start clearing the borders. I leave everything intact over winter for insects to hibernate, then gently clear old growth when the bulbs appear. I move around the garden in stages, over several days, leaving material on the open compost heap in case it is still harbouring insects. This means no wildlife is harmed as I ready the garden for the coming season.