I AM never one to get into a rut of boredom and will have a go, at least once, at anything new.

I see it as all part of life's challenge and don't mind if I fluff things up, or can't do it, because I can say that I have at least had a go.

This week's new experience was golf. I have always associated golf with those who have become too slow or injured to continue playing other sports, and those who have retired and have a mountain of spare time on their hands to fill. I saw the courses as sections of land that were reserved for the pleasure of the elite, and where you got shouted at for taking a short cut with the dog.

Throughout my life, I have taken part in various vigorous physical activities, and thought that any chance I had of developing a good golf action would have been ruined by years of well-grooved hockey and cricket swings. A short session on the local driving range soon fired my interest, though, and I was offered the chance of playing a round at a nearby course. I had a fabulous afternoon. Never mind the actual task of playing the sport, I got to amble around acres of beautiful scenic countryside for several hours.

The one thing that really stuck me, as I thrashed around in the undergrowth, was the amount of holly berries this year. The bushes are absolutely dripping with them, and they are extremely large. The blackbirds were having an absolute ball (as opposed to me, who couldn't find my ball), jumping from shrub to shrub gorging themselves on the plump, red fruit. I only hope that they leave some for Christmas. Mind you, if they don't, there are plenty of holly berry substitutes to be found.

The cotoneaster is particularly stunning this year. Not only are the herringbone branches packed full of the red fruit, but the leaves have turned a deep crimson. The yew berries are fat and swollen, too. They tend not be devoured as quickly as the holly and the cotoneaster, but contrary to popular belief, are quite edible to birds. We too can eat the red (or yellow) flesh without poisonous consequences, as it is the hard pit in the centre that causes all the damage, but I have yet to meet anyone who has actually tried it.

Hawthorn berries are more than just edible, they are packed full of vitamins and can have very beneficial effects on the body. They contain ingredients that stabilise mild blood pressure problems. If the pressure is too high, they will lower it; too low and they will raise it (but don't forget that you must consult your doctor if you are having serious medical problems before resorting to home made remedies).

The best way to take hawthorn berries is as an infused brandy. Simply fill a bottle two-thirds full with the haws, top up with brandy and add a little sugar (according to taste). Leave the whole lot to stew for six months and you have a good summer sun-downer or winter warmer. They make good wine and jams, too.

I came away from the day with a refreshed attitude to the golfing world. The afternoon gave me some moderate open air exercise, good company and mild, light-hearted competition. I came to see how the courses themselves could possibly provide a last refuge for much of our native wildlife, especially as the brick-built toy towns march progressively across the land.

I will be back again to try to better my score - at least that's the excuse I shall give for spending time wandering around a green and leafy terrain looking at the flora and fauna for half a day.

JOBS THIS WEEK

Lift Jerusalem artichokes

Cut down the tall stems and remove the tubers as you require them. They can be left in the ground over winter without damage, but try to clear the patch before spring, as anything remaining will spread rapidly over the next summer.

Empty and clean the greenhouse

Completely gut the greenhouse. Take everything out that can be moved. Throw away anything that won't be used next year and scrub everything that is going back in. This keeps fungal and bacterial diseases down for next season's activities.

Take hardwood cuttings

Things such as dogwood, willow and buddleia take much quicker if done as soon as the leaves have fallen. Cut nine inch long, pencil thin sections with a horizontal cut at the base and a slanting one at the top. Push them two-three inches into a deep pot full of sand and compost. Water well and leave outside or in a cool greenhouse over winter.

Gardeners' Questions

Mrs Stuart, of Darlington, wants to grow a garden full of plants next year but wants to do it from seed. She wants to know which plants would be better for this.

The best thing to do is study the catalogues that come through the letter box at this time of year. Look for germination times, growing conditions and whether they are perennial, bi annual or annual. You will want some fairly quick growing plants, and if you don't have access to greenhouse, you will want hardy plants.

I would recommend things like geraniums, eryngium, delphinium and lupin; campanula and verbena bonariensis. They can all be sown in spring, need very little looking after and will be flowering out in the garden by summer.

POST SCRIPT

Brigid hosts 'Ask About Gardening' every Sunday from 12-2pm on BBC Radio Cleveland FM95.

Published: ??/??/2003