There was a time when almost every arable field in England was bounded by a hedgerow. It has been estimated that between 1750 and 1850, around 2,000 miles of hedgerow were being planted every year, li

Up through the dappled oak grove, across a tinkling stream and out into open fields. It’s a lunchtime walk I do a lot, living here in West Yorkshire’s lush Upper Calder Valley. Recently, I’d been skir

We were younger then,” says Jennie Marles, turning the pages of a photo album, revealing grainy shots of a complex of semi-industrial buildings – vast, asbestos-roofed sheds housing thousands of inten

Following Adam Henson’s excellent article on British wool (November issue), I would like to mention that British wool is used in the compost I purchase from Cumbria. It is brilliant for tomatoes, grow

On a leisurely weekend break, the last thing I expected to be wearing was a hard hat with a headlamp, a battery pack and a pair of wellingtons. But there I was, fully togged up – along with seven othe

Hankley Common is a large expanse of heathland and woodland, owned by the Ministry of Defence and managed by Surrey Wildlife Trust. This unique habitat supports a wide range of wildlife, including dee