Glorious winter WONDERS

A garden displaying the scents and colours of a variety of plants is a joy on a crisp, dry day

- LOUISE MIDGLEY.

Wrap up warm and head to one of the many gardens that open their gates over winter - it'll give you a great physical and mental wellbeing boost. To create breathtaking displays at this time of year, garden designers choose from a select group of plants that include highly scented flowering shrubs, plants with brightly coloured stems, textural bark or jewel-coloured berries, and early-flowering bulbs and perennials. When planted collectively, the displays easily rival the floriferous seasons of spring, summer and autumn. Here are a few of our favourites.

DUNHAM MASSEY

CHESHIRE

The Winter Garden at Dunham Massey has been planted with an enchanting array of plants offering visitors a multisensory experience. With over 1,600 shrubs, trees and evergreens, thousands of bulbs and numerous perennials, it is one of the largest winter gardens in the UK. A highlight on the walk is the Birch Triangle – a copse of Himalayan birch underplanted with snowdrops. This triumph of seasonal interest reaches a peak at the beginning of February, when the snowdrops complement the skeletal elegance of the white birch trees.

RHS Garden Wisley