In pictures – A wintery walkabout Whitchurch this Christmas

All we have now is Christmas and New Year and then it all starts again.

Now the cynics among us would have you believe the annual tradition has long become throwaway, wasteful and corporate.

Perhaps they have a point but perhaps this year even the Christmas haters will respect the fact that for many this will be their first real Christmas with family for two years.

It is not up to anyone to dictate what anyone else believes or how they choose to celebrate.

This is why we have so many wonderful festive traditions from around the world.

Whether it be slight variations in the Christmas meal or more sweeping differences - over many centuries the traditions of Christmas have become embedded in our society to the point they cannot be eroded.

Certainly not be those who would have us believe Christmas is just an excuse to spend money and empower capitalism.

Frankly, this may well be true, and the commercialisation of Christmas is now as synonymous with the season as the Nativity and Advent calendars.

However the true spirit of Christmas, the giving, the love and the spending time with family or thinking of those no longer with us, remains in the hearts of those wo truly understand what December 25 is all about.

So as we approach the big day, please ignore those who bemoan the Christmas miracle and perhaps make it your mission to help Christmas into their hearts.

A frosty afternoon. Picture by Sam Barlow.

Moorhens in the garden. Picture by Steve Beech.

A white carpet in Shropshire. Picture by Claire Mayers.

An idyllic day in the woods. Picture by Caroline Barrett.

A dunnock hides from a robin. Picture by Steve Beech.

This bird was not early enough it seems. Picture by Steve Beech.

A wintery weekend around Whitchurch. Picture by Claire Mayers.