The run-up to Christmas has begun and at Nymans it’s the most exciting time of the year. The lights are up, the trees are decked and we’re all excited about the launch of Nymans’ annual Garden Advent Calendar.

Every day of Advent a new, beautiful floristry display will emerge in the garden. Our theme this year is “Christmas traditions old and new” and we await with anticipation to see the calendar unfold over the coming weeks.

It’s not just our floristry displays though that are looking good in the garden. The bark of the cherry trees and birches shimmer with frost and the ornamental grasses gleam golden in the low winter sun. The Pinetum too, with its coloured conifers and evergreen pines, provides a touch of green when all other trees are bare. Our striking collections of dog-woods are the brightest and boldest additions to our winter display, their dazzling stems brightening up even the bleakest of days.

Winter is always my favourite time of year in the garden. It’s time to put away the trusty hand fork and hoe; weeding is over, now it’s time for pruning.

Vines can be pruned back to two buds on last year’s growth and deciduous trees can be tackled too. Birches and acers can be gently shaped, as they don’t do well from a hard prune. Removing any dead, diseased or crossing branches will help to maintain their elegant shape. And while you still have the secateurs out, ferns could do with a trim too. Any tatty looking foliage can be removed, as the new growth begins to show.

And for days when it’s just too cold to go outside, winter is the time for root cuttings. Oriental poppies, phlox and verbascum can all be propagated this way and it’s a great means of bulking up your garden for free.

There’s still lots to do in the garden but if you need some horticultural inspiration wrap up warm and come and admire the winter wonderland that is Nymans at Christmas.

We have a reindeer trail for children, which leads to Father Christmas’s grotto – have a chat with the great man himself and receive a small gift.

There are festive craft activities in the Potting Shed too. Try your hand at felted bauble-making, bind fresh foliage and berries to make a beautiful wreath or make ornamental stars and other decorations that can go outside and will withstand winter weather.

  • Nymans, Handcross, nr Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 6EB, Tel: 01444 405250, www.national trust.org.uk/nymans
  • Gardens, woods, restaurant, shop and plant centre open every day (except Dec 25)