LandLove Magazine January/February 2015 Edizione posteriore

It may be cold outside, but there’s still plenty happening in the great outdoors at this time of
 year. Crocuses and winter aconites
 bring a welcome splash of sunshine
 yellow to our gardens along with witch hazel and winter jasmine 
(p.16). Meanwhile, in gardens and woodlands across the country, dainty snowdrops are making an appearance, carpeting the bare earth with their pretty white blooms. Check out our feature on page 106 to find a snowdrop walk near you. Late winter is a good time to think about the wildlife in your garden. 
It’s the perfect time to construct a nest box ready for birds to raise their broods in when spring arrives and, on page 94, we’ve teamed up with the RSPB to bring you an easy to make design. It’s also a good time of year to start planning your garden ready for spring planting, so turn to page 20 to find some great ideas for making your garden more wildlife friendly. If you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to learn a new skill this year, then you’ll love our feature on page 110 where we take a look at some of the exciting country craft courses you can take part in across the country. From basket weaving to foraging, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Talking of crafts, we meet Jeremy Atkinson on page 100, one of Britain’s last remaining clog makers, to discover just what goes into making this very traditional footwear. Pancake Day falls on 17th February this year, and on page 52, we’ve got some delicious and unusual ways to enjoy them. Finally, don’t forget to vote for your countryside champions in the LandLove Magazine Awards (p.74). Vote before 4th 
January and you could win a fantastic three-night
break for two in North Yorkshire.