Almost a year on from his final day hunting the Duke of Beaufort’s hounds, Matt Ramsden reflects on how his attitude to the winter, weather and hunting itself has changed

I LIFT my head to the weak sun and give thanks for having survived another winter. It’s good to see the lane is passable, even if there are ruts and puddles. However, I can still see the bones of icy,

St Valentine’s month may be bitterly cold, but the capricious charms of Vanellus vanellus never fail to warm the heart, says John Lewis-Stempel

A sense of optimism fills the dank February air as springtime beckons and Tessa Waugh finds herself enjoying a hunting day considerably more than its bitter beginnings suggested she would

It’s easy to underestimate the power of winter out on the hillside when you’re tucked away in the lea of a stable yard, finds Tessa Waugh , after an optimistic hacking route proves treacherous

Giles Catchpole on riverside ghosts