A rare breed

With 36 years in hunt service behind him, Robert McCarthy is one of the country’s most senior and most respected huntsmen. He talks to Tessa Waugh about Crufts, the current situation and life in Northumberland

The graceful Italian Greyhound is believed to have originated in or around Egypt, where similar dogs were found buried alongside the Pharaohs. Their delicate build and beauty later caught the attentio

● It had been, until that point, an ...

A s we edge closer to spring, I find myself daydreaming about morning walks that no longer require five carefully chosen layers just to stay warm. That said, I’m far less confident that a change in se

Fluid in flight and perplexingly wide-ranging, the short-eared owl is a singular figure in the family– and a figure of particular terror to the vole

As winter relinquishes its grip, Tessa Waugh enjoys a copybook meet, with convivial chat, springy turf and good sport – while the real hunting aficionados demonstrate their teleporting skills