Life almanac

PLACES TO GO, THINGS TO DO, IDEAS TO TRY

FOR JOHN KEATS, AUTUMN WAS THE SEASON OF MISTS AND MELLOW FRUITFULNESS. HERE, THE COUNTRY LIVING TEAM AND FRIENDS HIGHLIGHT WHAT THIS TIME OF YEAR MEANS TO THEM – FROM CRAFTING WREATHS TO BOTTLING SLOE GIN

Karen Youngs revels in the changing landscape and encounters a handsome game bird on a morning walk

After summer’s golden show, gardener Poppy Okotcha surrenders to the slumbering wind-down of autumn in the second of our seasonal celebrations

Autumn is a wonderful time of year. Birds are on the move in their masses. It is exciting. And just about anything can turn up. Here are five birds which may look to be dressed in the dulled browns of autumn, but are all special, even thrilling to watch.

On urgency, impulsivity, and the joy of unexpected recklessness