Though they're certainly hard at work, winter isn't only a busy time for professional gardeners on private estates, with the workload spreading out into the wider countryside.
For the larger groups holding responsibility for public woodlands, parks and reserves, winter is one of the only times they're able to get work done.
Gathering up their own surveys from across the year, along with any reports submitted by members of the public, woodland management programmes are embarked on while the trees are dormant and in a state to be handled.
A lack of foliage allows disease to be easily identified, with the search for Ash Dieback currently dominating most woodland management programmes.
Trees are felled as appropriate in an effort to eradicate contaminants, with experts brought in to handle the situation.
Most groups engage in coppicing, the practise of maintaining trees at a juvenile stage by regularly cutting down to the base.
Doing so during winter means the plant experiences a minimum of shock, and is ready for growth the next spring.
The practice serves a number of purposes.
The thin shoots rising up from the stool (the base of the coppiced plant) create visually stimulating environments friendly to local wildlife.
In the long term more timber is produced by the multiplied, branching growth coppicing encourages, and the regularly cut trees result in more light reaching ground level, encouraging new regeneration and an increased diversity of ground-based flora.
Different areas of the forest are coppiced on rotation, to ensure a sustainable amount of timber as well as widespread biodiversity.
Kept at their juvenile stage the trees will never die of old age, so the common practice of replanting trees doesn't need to be engaged in.
Authorities often find themselves carrying out clearance programmes, dealing with deadwood accrued from over the year.
Based on a survey of the area they often choose to leave the deadwood where it lies, a fallen tree can make an excellent habitat for any number of wild insects and fauna, as well as providing an attractive landmark for passers by.
Though by surveying the land authorities often find wood that poses a threat, blocks a path or stream and provides little benefit to the accompanying environment.
In these cases the timber will be removed and sold on, helping avoid wastage and fund the continued management of the woodland.
Keeping areas safe for the public is an important part of any woodland management process.
Much like evidence of disease, reports of dead and dying trees are investigated, with professionals determining whether the tree risks public safety, often via risk of falling.
Controlled felling of trees is often carried out, though full removal is avoided where possible.
Authorities tend to lean again towards coppicing if it means avoiding planting an entirely new sapling.
With less public interest and greater access to the environment, it's no wonder woodland authorities carry out their management programmes in the winter.
Whether it's a large scale coppicing programme or selected areas of clearance and felling, you can usually expect to see a few changes to forests before spring rolls through.