To cook my first cottage pie from scratch! Am trying parsnips and horseradish in the mash and peas and carrots with the mince, anyone got any other tips?

No tips but that sounds quite yummy! =d

Sorry no tips here as I dont know for sure what that is you are making, but it does sound yummy.

OK.
Grate a little cheese on top of the mash, looks good, tastes better.
Cheese mixed in the mash is nice too, even Parmesan.
Go easy on the HR, a little is a lot.
Try adding a few drops of Mayo to the mash
Remember to drain/dry meat well when assembling pie, or it will be very runny.
A layer of cheery tomatoes(vine ones, in a bunch like grapes?) between the meat and mash can be interesting, or push them into the mash from top, looks interesting too.
A teaspoon of sweet-chilli sauce in the meat adds zing.
If you want a RICH meat mix, add a level teaspoon of instant coffee.
For the best flavour and presentation. cook it till nearly done, remove and cool, then finish cooking, this "matures" the flavour, and adds consistency.
These are all OPTIONS, you are the cook, and it's an Art, there are no hard and fast rules!
Good Luck!

I'd tell ya good luck but I think it is too late. I hope tea(?) turned out well for you.

OOPS, that should have been "Cherry" tomatoes, !

Tips? If it's your first time making something, follow a recipe initially until you're comfortable with the proportions.

All this food talks making me hungry

Omg I want cottage pie

Thanks everyone! I used a combination of a couple of recipes in the end, plus my own little twists in too, used carrots and peas with the mince and onion mix and creme fraiche, horseradish sauce, milk and butter for the mash, there's a couple of tweaks I would change for next week but overall it went down very well yaaay!