Published 6th Mar 2023, 06:00 BST

Behind the scenes there's a felled birch, lost to Storm Otto, that without warning could soon be a nesting site for eagle-eyes birds. Then pruning, and cutting, and pruning some more.

Winter is a busy time, said head gardener at the estate's 1,000 acre parkland Alastair Gunn. A time for tidying, and preparing and all the little projects that soon amount to a lot.

"I would be quite happy to have a few more cold weeks," he said. "Winter is quite useful really. We would almost like it to last just a little bit longer."When it's warm the grass starts growing and then it's an interesting cycle of mowing."

Gardeners Volunteers help prepare the grounds and woodlands at Castle Howard, near Malton ready for Spring. 'Dave' the Peacock is pictured in the Walled Garden area as Paul Sarginson is pictured at work.. Picture by Simon Hulme

Castle Howard, a stately home north of York, has been the home of the Howard family for more than 300 years. The spine of the gardens' design dates to the 17th century. Some has been lost, some added to in the mid to late 18th century.

There's the walled gardens, opening in April, with manicured borders and ornamental vegetable patch. Then a woodland garden, open year round, with a botanical collection from around the world featuring nearly 800 species of Rhododendron alone.

"If you've got roses, this is the time to prune them," said Mr Gunn. "We have quite a lot of roses. More than 1,000 I should think, all together."

Here, gardening teams have to dip in for rose pruning from December, there are just so many. It takes all season, on and off.

Head Gardener Alastair Gunn is pictured in the grounds at Castle Howard. Picture by Simon Hulme

There's pernicious weeds to watch out for, mulch to be laid. The winter has been a harsh one, with more plants lost this year than in the previous five.

In any one day, there might be one gardener spiking the lawns, two pruning, and a few tending to a fallen tree. In the height of spring, it can take four or five people three or four days a week just mowing and strimming.

The estate does keep long grasses now, Mrs Howard in particular is keen on butterflies. Then there's the greenhouses, "full to brimming" with nursery plants. It's also where the chickens are nesting now, in their own lockdowns. Sometimes the peacocks try and get in.

To Mr Gunn, after six years as head gardener, the grounds are a “cultural object”, the whole thing was designed to be beautiful. He views it all in a seasonal cycle. His favourite time of year is one of transitions, be it from dawn to dusk or late summer to early autumn.

Ben Paterson is pictured clearing branches to burn. Picture by Simon Hulme

"There are some periods in winter when we get these wonderful pinkish lights in the sky," he said. "The views here are incredible. The sun rises, and we see the owls fly. We see the mistle thrush up close, we see the Red Kites starting to come back.

"The more you pay attention to the landscape, the more it rewards you with details."

Behind the scenes in winter at the glorious gardens of Yorkshire's Castle Howard