The sign of four

From battlefields to celebrations, antique and vintage flags are rich with symbolism and history – speaking of identity, power and pride across centuries, Alice Roberton explains

Wherever you look – from our national flags to carvings on ancient buildings – you can see heraldic designs. They owe their appearance to a formalised system that’s a lot more complex than you might at first appreciate, explains Clare Hunt

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

Quiz of the week 1) What is the dispersal ...

Quaint relic or symbol of bad taste, garden gnomes have gone in and out of fashion. They are generally thought to have originated in Switzerland and Germany in the late 18th century. Then, in 1841, a

There’s new hope for these beautiful wild flower areas, as we recognise their immeasurable value to the natural world