It is cold and frosty but the sun is out and some warmth can be felt as I walk down the garden and sit in the arbour. The witch hazel is making a good show and the first snowdrops are just coming through in the woods.

All around in the woods I can hear the wrens chatting busily and further up the garden the blackbirds and tits are calling.

The frost is making the earth in the vegetable patch friable and the early broccoli and leeks  are all ready to take off when the weather improves.