The spring garden changes and grows so rapidly that we can almost see the development as it happens, flower buds swelling, fresh new leaves unfurling and a soft haze of green beginning to show over the hedges.

I've always liked to photograph my garden but never progressed beyond the safety of my good old reliable 'point and press' camera. This year I'm determined to master the manual setting on a potentially much better SLR camera my son gave me and what better time to start than now.

It's also a very good excuse to get outside and record the exuberance of spring as it speeds its way through my garden.