Often painted as a thief and a troublemaker, the magpie’s high intelligence and shimmering beauty are shadowed by misunderstanding and ancient fears

Beavers and red kites may be flourishing in Britain, but the reintroduction of apex predators here is a trickier issue. Could there be practical and philosophical benefits and would a trial release of lynx be a worthwhile experiment?

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

Happy New (wildlife-watching) Year to all readers, says James Lowen

My sky is never empty. At dawn there may be just a lone crow beating a steady path north, or at dusk, the curiously undulating, huge wings of a heron heading to roost in a willow above the ditch. Duck

The history of the aristocracy is intertwined with the fascinating history of hunting, Eleanor Doughty discovered while researching her most recent book