How birds and beasts got their names

With high summer beckoning, John Lewis-Stempel reflects on the incomparable richness of pond life and the rewards of pausing to peer into the murky depths on a warm June afternoon

Rudoph II and the empirical study of nature

Britain’s wild places are under pressure – but cycling gives us rare access to their beauty and fragility. Sophie Pavelle explores what’s at stake from the saddle

No More Napoleons: How Britain Managed Europe from ...

Travels in mountain country where nations have little meaning

With their potent blend of wild looks and mystery, Britain’s ancient sites have an enduring magnetism–and there are far more of them than you might imagine, says Tom Howells