Six great apps for hobbies and leisure

This snappily titled database lets you trace your family tree through a choice of one million surnames. You might even find a coat of arms that belongs to your family. £2.99, iOS

Plan your perfect vegetable, herb and fruit garden on your iPad or iPhone. The chaps behind the successful online garden planner growveg.com have made this app, combining expert plant knowledge with simple tools such as plant directories, and pest and disease info. £5.49, iOS

Related: Stock up on seeds

An astronomy app that has been reviewed as being ‘close to perfect’. Hold your iPhone or iPad up to the sky to be shown where the various stars and constellations are. You can even track satellites as they pass overhead. Simple and beautiful, and no need for a web connection. £1.49, iOS

For the avid golfer, this GPS, scorecard, rangefinder and yardage app has just about every fairway in its global database. Aerial imagery, real-time scoring and statistics make it popular with clubbers. Free, iOS

The classic board game translates surprisingly well to smart devices, and with the bonus of not having to refer to a dictionary to check if ‘crombulent’ actually exists. Play solo against the app or challenge pals via Facebook. Keep up to 50 games going at a time (if your brain can take the strain). Free, iOS, Android

Dogs can be tremendous company, but not everyone has the space or mobility to look after a pooch. This Dogs Trust app lets you look after a virtual canine, taking it for ‘walks’, playing games and grooming. You can also donate to the charity from the app. Free, iOS