LandLove Magazine March/April 2016 Vorige editie

I love it at this time of year, don’t you? Spring is in the air, and Mother Nature is casting off her drab grey winter cloak and donning a colourful gown of vivid greens and brilliant yellows. The branches of our trees, having been bare for so long, are now bursting into life with new leaf buds. In fact it’s the perfect time to get back out in the garden once more. In this issue we take a look at how dainty grape hyacinths can add a delicate injection of colour into your pots and borders (p.22). We also discover the wide range of early blooming shrubs that can fill your garden with sunshine at the start of the growing season (p.38). And, if you’re thinking of adding a new path to your garden, then check out our feature on page 26 for some inspiring designs – you can even make your own leaf-shaped stepping stones with our easy step-by-step project too! Easter comes early this year, and we’ve got some cute Easter bunnies for you to coo over on page 93, while on page 102 you can learn all about the baby songbirds that are hatching at the moment. Britain’s flora and fauna are a constant source of inspiration for artist Celia Lewis, we meet her at work in her studio on page 108. If you’re feeling creative this Easter, then why not try our adorable knitted egg cosy projects on page 88, or have a go at making the gorgeous decorated eggs on page 90? And, if you’re planning on entertaining family and friends over the coming weeks, then make sure you try some of the dishes from our Easter menu on page 66 or the scrummy hot cross bun recipe on page 79. Finally, we can reveal the winners of this year’s LandLove Awards in this issue (p.61). You voted in your thousands, so thank you for rewarding Britain’s countryside champions with the recognition they deserve.