So that will be Winter then...

We arrived at the Garden on Monday to see that the snows had also arrived...

Which must have surprised the early bulbs, which were making the most of the recent mild weather.

Snow on the boughs of the trees always looks nice though.

As well as this blast of icy weather there was also a blast from the past in the arrival of our new Garden Manager; Paul Boyce.

Paul will be familiar to some of you as he was previously the Garden Manager here until 2006, and was largely responsible for building up the Garden Gate as it is today, and so we warmly welcome him back and wish him every success upon his return. 

Paul was straight to work at the top of a tree, pollarding the Willow which had become somewhat unruly...

By the time the snow had melted all the willow was down...

Leaving just the naked stubs, from which new growth will begin.

Of course, we now have a large pile of Crack-Willow to clear away, it is too brittle for weaving, but if you need any pea-sticks...