Clare wrote:
I sowed some grass seed very late last year (early December I think it
was), when it's probably not recommended and yet it's happily growing
away, just not as fast as it would in spring, but then the weather is
rather mild here sometimes (northeast Surrey). The seed waited until a
milder spell before coming up, which was shortly after new year I
think.

Me too. I put some down the day before the first frosts back in
november or december and it started sprouting just after new years.