It’s always darkest before the dawn

An early-morning dog walk through the woods sees John Lewis-Stempel coming face to face–or skin to spider silk–with the industrious magic of a September dawn

Karen Youngs encounters squabbling herons and glimpses an elusive predator on a waterside walk

30-minute birder Amanda Tuke sees the benefits of being distracted by birds at home, and on the coast

Does the abundance of rowan berries really forecast snowy days and a hard winter, muses Tessa Waugh , as a home meet draws people of all ages, stages and pre-dawn routines

● In the arena of storytelling, there’s power ...

The sixtieth anniversary ‘heritage’ edition of Ariel