Blog
15 January 2026
The turn of the year always brings a quiet magic to the gardens at Emmanuel College. January may appear subdued at first glance, but beneath the bare branches and winter light there is already a sense of anticipation. For the gardening team, this is not a dormant time so much as a reflective and preparatory one - a moment to take stock of the year just passed and to set intentions for the season ahead.
Winter reveals the underlying structure of the gardens more clearly than any other time of year. The bones of the landscape - avenues of trees, clipped hedges, borders and lawns - stand out without the distraction of summer abundance. It is a valuable opportunity for us as gardeners to assess balance and proportion, to consider where planting has succeeded and where it might be refined. Pruning fruit trees, roses and shrubs is a major focus now, carried out carefully to encourage healthy growth and good form later in the year.
Despite the cold, there is plenty of life to be found. Snowdrops are beginning to push through the soil, offering those first hopeful flashes of white and hellebores are quietly coming into their own, unfazed by frost. These early-flowering plants are always a morale boost - not just for visitors, but for the team as well. They remind us that the cycle is already turning.
Winter is also a time for groundwork, both literally and figuratively. Soil care is central to everything we do and where conditions allow, we are improving beds with organic matter to support the coming year’s growth. Elsewhere, we are repairing edges, maintaining paths and ensuring that the gardens remain welcoming and safe throughout the wetter months.
Planning plays a major role at this time of year. Seed catalogues are well-thumbed, planting plans reviewed and ideas discussed. At Emmanuel, the gardens serve many purposes: they are places of beauty and calm, working spaces and settings for study, reflection and community life. Balancing tradition with thoughtful evolution is always part of the conversation. We aim to respect the character of the College gardens while responding to changing conditions, including the realities of climate and sustainability.
Sustainability continues to guide our decisions. We are increasingly mindful of plant choices that are resilient and supportive of biodiversity and of gardening practices that work with nature rather than against it. Winter is a good moment to review what has worked well in this regard and to look for opportunities to do better in the year ahead - whether through habitat creation, water management, or planting for pollinators across the seasons.
The quieter months also give us time to reflect on how the gardens are used and experienced. Emmanuel’s gardens are an integral part of College life, offering space for solitude as well as shared moments. Seeing students, staff and visitors enjoying the grounds throughout the year is one of the most rewarding aspects of our work and it shapes how we think about the future.
As Head Gardener, I am always grateful at this time of year for the dedication and skill of the gardening team. Winter work is often unseen, but it lays the foundation for everything that follows. The care taken now - in pruning, planning and preparation - will be evident when spring arrives in earnest.
As we move into the new year, we look forward to sharing the gardens with you as they unfold through the seasons. There is much to come and it all begins here, in the stillness and promise of winter.
Best wishes
Brendon Sims (Head Gardener)
