What does the science actually tell us about wildlife gardening? Urban ecologist Dr Mark Goddard busts five common beliefs to ...

Thyme (Thymus) is a compact evergreen shrub with small aromatic leaves. It’s easy to grow in a warm, sunny spot, in free-draining soil or containers. It’s also drought tolerant and needs little ...

These spreading deciduous shrubs, ranging from 2.5-5m (8-16ft) in height and spread, produce spider-like, usually yellow (but also orange or red) flowers on the bare branches in late winter. The oval ...

Okra – also known as ladies’ fingers or bhindi – is best grown in a greenhouse in the UK, although it may be worth trying outdoors on a hot, sunny patio. The calcium-rich pods are used in soups, stews ...

This light and airy space with beautiful garden views is the perfect spot to catch up with friends and family for a coffee and cake, leisurely lunch or an indulgent afternoon tea. Our ethos is to ...

Grown for its spicy, pungent leaves, oregano is a sun-loving Mediterranean herb. Easy to grow, compact and drought tolerant, it thrives in pots or in the ground. It’s widely used in Italian and Greek ...

The classic summer-flowering buddleja or butterfly bush (B. davidii) is easy to grow in a sunny spot and just needs some annual pruning to look good. There are a few buddlejas that need sheltered ...

Iconic and romantic, our native foxgloves are instantly recognisable – their spires of purple bells adorning woodland clearings and cottage gardens. And now, with new hybrids and different species ...

A generally easy-to-grow cottage garden favourite, with a few species that are best suited to rock and woodland gardens. Columbines bear dainty flowers in a wide colour range in late spring and early ...

A clump-forming, tuberous perennial to 1.2m in height with toothed, dark green leaves. Large, double, peach-flushed, creamy flowers bloom from midsummer until autumn ...

Many garden euphorbias are a staple of early summer gardens, with their acid yellow, green and bright orange shades amid the fresh foliage of the season. Others perform later in the summer, providing ...

Log piles and areas of long grass in your garden will help attract wildlife Gardens provide food and a home for thousands of creatures throughout their lifecycles Both native and non-native plants ...