National Tree Planting Week, which began in 1975, starts this year on November 21st. It is the start of the winter planting season and is a reminder of the valuable contribution trees make to our environment.

By planting a tree in our gardens or as communities we are helping to overcome the effects of climate change, improving the look of our surroundings and offering a great opportunity for wildlife to move into the area.

Red and Yellow and Pink and Green Orange and Purple and Blue these are the colours of a Rainbow which can all be found in your garden every autumn. As the days get shorter and the light levels and temperatures drop deciduous plants will stop producing chlorophyll, their source of nutrition, and shed their leaves. Chlorophyll produces the green leaves we see when plants are actively growing. In autumn the chlorophyll breaks down and the leaves loose the green pigment revealing other colours in the leaves.

Bulbs are the hidden surprises in the garden. We plant daffodils crocus and tulips in Autumn and forget about them until spring. The autumn flowering daffodil Sternbergia Lutea with its bright yellow trumpet is an autumn delight when allowed to naturalise, as is Cyclamen Hederifolium planted in light shade under trees and left undisturbed.