A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY
PLACES TO GO, THINGS TO DO, IDEAS TO TRY
40 The top speed in miles of a brown hare streaking through the March fields
SENSE OF THE SEASON...
As the low rays retreat with spring’s bright optimism, March offers a last chance to enjoy this fleeting yet intense white light. Clear early mornings still reveal shadows stretched long on the warming ground and throw the beauty of flowers and trees into sharp focus. Rise early as the sun illuminates dew or pierces through mist, and walk in dazzling disco sparkle or ethereal otherworldliness while the rest of the world is still coming to.
MEET THE PRODUCER
Laura Corbett heads up The Gourmet Goat Farmer, a collective outside Avebury that sells goat products including cheese, milk and meat.
I’m a third-generation farmer, and when I took over our dairy farm in 2011 from my father, I decided to take it in a different direction.
We now have two herds of Boer goats who roam freely using Nofence GPS collars to track them. As browsers, who vary what they eat according to season, the goats encourage biodiversity on our ancient grasslands.
The ladies are heavily pregnant at this time of year, so we’re making them comfortable in the barn to avoid March cold snaps and waiting for the new babies at the end of April, as the soil warms up, bringing spring grass and herbs.
Goats are actually very fussy eaters, although their inquisitive nature means they will try anything once.
Their meat is incredibly mild and versatile – as lean as chicken but with red meat’s protein levels.
My favourite cut is aloin chop or mince for burgers or meatballs. For more information, go to thegourmetgoatfarmer.co.uk.
OF THE BEST... sculpture parks
Art meets nature in these open-air galleries
KIELDER ART &ARCHITECTURE TRAIL, NORTHUMBERLAND Set in a lake and forest landscape, this intriguing art collection includes an award-winning futuristic shelter (visitkielder.com).
FOREST OF DEAN SCULPTURE TRAIL, GLOUCESTERSHIRE Pieces appear seemingly out of nowhere on paths and in clearings (forestofdean-sculpture.org.uk).
YORKSHIRE SCULPTURE PARK, YORKSHIRE (right) The largest of its kind in Europe (ysp.org.uk).
TOUT QUARRY SCULPTURE PARK, DORSET Discover 60 hidden sculptures in this abandoned quarry (visit-dorset.com).
JUPITER ARTLAND, WEST LOTHIAN This sculpture garden outside Edinburgh combines permanent works with exhibitions by up-and-coming artists (jupiterartland.org).
Bookworm
GATHERING: WOMEN OF COLOUR ON NATURE
Nature is seen through a fresh lens in this anthology of essays by women of colour as they write about their relationship with the British country
