These structurally beautiful shrubs and trees can provide shelter and privacy for your house

Jo Carter of English Woodlands looks at some options

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There are few people who are not awaiting spring with eager anticipation now that fresh shoots and early flowers are brightening the landscape. But it is important to acknowledge those stalwarts of winter that have kept our spirits alive during the coldest and darkest months of the year: evergreens. They provide shape, form, beauty, shelter and privacy all year round. They can also act as pieces of exquisite, living art which improve with age. Observe an ancient yew to appreciate the beauty that maturity brings. Evergreen topiary and structural forms continue to evolve over the years, bringing a sense of life and movement which tends to be lacking in any man-made art form.

Evergreens that respond well to clipping and shaping generally have small leaves. They are as appropriate for use in formal features such as parterres and knot gardens as they are for massive topiary elephants, regal lions or resplendent peacocks. Then there are impressive multistemmed evergreens such as bay trees with rounded heads; evergreen cones, spirals and balls, all playing key roles as anchors within the surrounding landscape. They hold the visual scene together throughout the seasons and share something very important: the fact that they can never be ignored! When placed appropriately within an outdoor space, the vista can be explored from the comfort of a warm and cosy home on a stormy day - as the human gaze naturally pauses on each structural form before moving on to the next. Beware, however, as certain conifers including Leylandii won't regenerate if they are cut back into old wood.

EVER GROWING SCREENING