31. Rural Reading. Good Smews for twitchers

You can tell that winter is officially here as all the winter birds have arrived.

32. Garden birds hard hit by cold snap

After the un-seasonally mild autumn, the RSPB is warning that we won’t be the only ones getting a shock as 'winter' finally arrives with a vengeance.

33. Rural Reading: Tiptoe through the mushrooms

One of my local walks is along the old branch line through the Kennet meadows from Southcote to Coley.

34. Go Organic: Buy Nothing Day

I’ve always had a tendency to be frugal. I think it is a quality many gardeners share.

35. Gardening: Troublesome caterpillar causing me grief

Bringing outdoor plants into the house at this time of year can also present small problems of hygiene.

36. Balmy November extends window on wildlife

37. Go Organic: Don't be too tidy in the garden

My garden is really starting to look like winter.

38. Rural Reading: Blessed with a wonderful autumn

The autumn we are currently blessed with may be one of the finest I can remember. Here we have yet to have a real frost, or even any really cold weather.

39. Gardening: Get your garden ready for winter

A large clump of day lilies next to the Forbury war memorial caught my eye this week.

40. Gardening: Winter's star performers

The winter flowering shrubs perform two important roles in the garden.