From a spectacular autumn we slammed into winter with freezing fog and temperatures well below zero. It’s good - it’s what we need to kill off the beastly bugs and nasties, added to which it has been quite, quite beautiful.

On the day that the fog started to lift, Mortimer Forest was left encased in ice crystals that fell like large flakes of coconut as the temperature rose. It was magical - a scene from Narnia - I half expected to see the White Witch gliding through the trees.

Last week, as the pale sun kissed away the frost, I was surprised to see a lone Bumblebee brave the cold and head for the purple flower of the Erysimum ‘Bowle’s Mauve’ (below) to top up on nectar reserves.

I am thankful to have so many winter flowering species in the garden - this bumblebee reiterates how important they are. Plus, what a bonus that so many are blissfully fragrant - an unseen request for pollinators - all part of the balance of nature.. And I am sure that it was Mother Nature that gave such an abundant apple harvest this year as well. The perfect balance yet again as the windfalls still on the ground have been a valuable food source for the birds when everything else has been frosted.

Just leave my Bumblebee alone please.