Life

For under the tree

If you're looking for a stocking filler for the gardener in your life John Manley recommends eight green-fingered Christmas gifts...

* Potting Shed Collection - This attractively-boxed selection of quality tools is ideal for both novice and seasoned gardener. The set comprises an original paper potter for making your own biodegradable pots, an oak dibblet for pricking out seedlings, an oak pot tamper for firming the soil and a calibrated dibber for preparing the soil for seeds or seedlings. All made from sustainable British oak, it also features a set of garden lines to assist sowing and planting in straight lines. £29.95 from woodlandtrustshop.com

* Gnome Soap on a Rope - normally I'd frown upon anything that connects gnomes and gardening but hey, it's the season of good will. This somewhat surreal soap-on-a-rope comes in the shape of a gnome and is bound to raise a chuckle as it's unwrapped on Christmas morning. Hand-crafted from vegetable-based soap made using natural ingredients and scented with watermelon essence, it measures around six inches high. £6.95 from prezzybox.com

* Hogitat - not sure whether this item is for the nature-lover or the hedgehog in your life but either way it's a very worthwhile gift. Increasingly rare because their habitats are being destroyed, these small prickly mammals are great for eating slugs and snails in the garden. Give them a home in the Hogitat, a sturdy, lightweight and waterproof shelter designed to blend into the garden. £25.49 from rspb. org.uk/shop.

* Planting: ANew Perspective by Noel Kingsbury and Piet Oudolf

- This is my favourite book of the year, combining great inspirational images with practical knowledge. Piet Oudolf is an internationally renowned plantsman and designer who espouses naturalised, prairie-style planting. His acclaimed gardens include the High Line in new York and Potter's Field in London. This book is designed to appeal to established fans of his work and gardeners with an interest in ecological planting. £30.00 from all good book shops.

* Terracotta rhubarb forcer -- not only does a rhubarb forcer help you grow the earliest and sweetest rhubarb, it also brings an air of class to your vegetable patch. These are also available in cheaper plastic but obviously lacking the decorative impact and sophistication of its terracotta counterpart. From £25 at various stockists.

* Tree book - One for the younger members of the household who may appreciate the novelty of receiving a book at Christmas. Colourful, interactive and full of fascinating facts about trees around the world, the reader will discover how trees grow, how they reach amazing heights and how some live for thousands of years. Designed to engage potential treehuggers of all ages, the book explains how trees provide foods, fibres, oils and how they clean the air we breathe. £12.99 from woodlandtrustshop.com

* Leather garden kneeler - non-gardeners are unlikely to understand the need for a kneeler pad. However, anyone who's spent a couple of hours working their borders will appreciate

what a Godsend they can be. Basic versions begin at under a tenner, but if you're after something special and long-lasting, then opt for a handmade luxury leather version.

A leather and waxed cotton kneeler from Bradley's the Tannery will cost £35.95 online at amazon.co.uk

* Gardener's Barrier Cream - More than just a moisturiser, this cream provides a protective beeswax barrier that keeps out dirt, grease and water.

It's safe to use on sensitive skin and also works well on peeling or cracking skin anywhere - dry feet and cracked heels included. With a scent of "refreshing blend of citrusy grapefruit and elemi with a brain-clearing waft of wild rosemary" it sounds like it'll appeal to males and females alike. £7 from skinny-dip.co.uk