THERE exists a perception that us gardeners have our feet up in the potting shed over winter, listening to the radio and dreaming of summer.

So I'd like to put some of these accusations to bed once and for all.

Many of the jobs between November and January are vital to the health of the garden, not only in respect to soil nutrition but to a large public garden like Tatton, vital for the effective running for the next year.

When weather permits, mowing, digging and trenching are vital if success is to be made, particularly with vegetables.

Old crops, leaves and weeds also must be cleaned to prevent pest and disease over wintering and the greenhouses must be washed down for sowings in January and February.

Other vital jobs are the repair and cleaning of tools and sundries such as canes and cloches - all good wet weather work often done in small groups - that is no bad thing to keep spirits up when it is still dark at eight in the morning.

Mr Beeton's book of garden management is as tough to follow as any Victorian head gardener and he is scathing of any rest time in the winter.

"It is only those who dig, plough and sow in the winter that have any right to reap in summer or autumn," he said.

More encouragingly he added: "Advantage should be taken of this dead season to remedy any defect or shortcoming that has been brought into prominence by the experience of the preceding summer."

It is by using these old books as a guide that we may get into the spirit of our forebears and really see through their eyes what we ourselves should strive to achieve. We are a long way off it, I admit, but like the mythical Mr Beeton said in respect of winter work: "Nothing more liberally rewards proper attention - and nothing exacts a severer penalty for neglect - than a garden!"

A big focus of all our winter work at Tatton is Christmas. It plays a much bigger part of our lives now than it would have done to gardeners in 1890 when Mr Beeton was instructing us.

We now manage the gardens for thousands more gardeners than in 1890 and we have to cut much more greenery than they would have.

We open our illuminated garden at the start of December and even need to find a wicked winter witch between Christmas and New Year to put a curse on our garden.

So the pressures on a gardener in 2007 are much different than in 1890, but I feel we are still striving for the same thing - Nature-perfected' whether it be winter or summer.