If you want to get out into the garden and burn off some of Christmas’s excesses, than now is a good time to spread manure onto bare frozen soil. You won’t cause any harm if you stand on the frozen soil, and you’ll avoid getting caked with soil in milder conditions either. Don’t try wheeling a barrow over frozen lawn however, if you have to try laying planks over the lawn.

Decaying leaves should be removed from crowns of herbaceous perennials and alpines, as prolonged damp conditions can cause them to rot off. Add fallen leaves to your compost or leaf mould heap. Be careful when collecting large piles of leaves that there aren’t any hibernating animals within!

Now is a great time to install a water butt, this will help save on water use during the summer months.