with a wonderful

balance of mature specimens and groundcovering associations – using conifers, evergreens and perennials. The plant drifts are substantial, delivering a seasonal spectacle using many winter favourites, including witch hazels, viburnums, daphnes and willows. RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. Tel 01805 624067, rhs.org.uk

Another winter garden I’d recommend is the Cambridge Botanical Garden. It’s one of the country’s premier winter displays and this year celebrates its 40th anniversary. During the darkest months, our appreciation of colour is heightened and visiting gardens full of coloured stems, scented flowers and brightly variegated evergreens is a treat. 1 Brookside, Cambridge CB2 1JE. Tel 01223

336265, botanic.cam.ac.uk

In December, trees take centre stage in many gardens, and one of the best trees for large and small gardens alike is birch. The best place to see birches is Stone Lane Gardens in Devon. This five-acre woodland and water garden on the outskirts of Dartmoor houses the National Collection of wild origin birches. Kenneth and June Ashburner began the collection more than 40 years ago and now run the garden as a charity, under the stewardship of garden manager and arboriculturist, Paul Bartlett. The birches are planted in accordance to their native provenance, a group of Chinese red birches being particularly spectacular and worth looking out for, along with a large planting of the whitest of birches: Betula utilis var. jacquemontii. Stone Lane Gardens Stone Farm, Chagford, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ13 8JU. Tel 01647 231311, stonelanegardens.com