Mandarin ducks regularly visit our garden

Lines get blurred when it comes to non-native species, so whose rules do you follow, asks Matt Merritt

The article in a recent Special about the Lake District reminded me of something which happened many years ago on a short break. We did several of Wainwright’s climbs (the easiest ones!) and then deci

I t’s the summer solstice, and the mountains ...

Fragrant and frothy, elder blossom is a highlight of May and June. The flat-topped flowerheads turn together to track the sun each day and attract a host of invertebrates, especially hoverflies and ti

Succ it and see! We really enjoy the ...

With returning swifts screaming across the rooftop and golden buttercup pollen gilding his Wellingtons as he strides across the cow meadow, John Lewis-Stempel marvels at the many pleasures of May