Paul McGuinness, editor@countryfile.com
EDITOR’S LETTER
And all of a sudden, autumn is here. Every year I’m struck by how quickly I go from slathering on sunblock to fishing out long trousers from the depths of my wardrobe; this year, the gap between the two was less than a week.
I’ll confess, I love the spring and summer, with the rich variety of life bursting forward to showcase its various wares, and so the thought of autumn is often tinged with a sense of things coming to an end. My cycle ride home from the office becomes a race against the setting sun; evenings reading in the garden are curtailed; and the camping gear is packed away for its winter hibernation.
Then I remember autumn walks amid the spectacular changing colours – those burnt oranges and bright reds that act as an encore to the fanfare of summer. The ages-old celebrations – harvest festival, Hallowe’en and bonfire night – are waymarkers for the season, which for me is characterised by wholesomeness and togetherness.
So this month we celebrate the Fall, from harvest recipes (page 46) to woodland walks (page 89), and we take a sneaky peak at Britain’s favourite mammal as hedgehogs prepare for their long winter sleep (page 38).
I hope you enjoy the issue – it’s my first in the hot seat, and I look forward to many seasons ahead together!
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