The fact that gardeners are obsessed by the weather is hardly surprising. It governs just about everything we do – especially at this time of year when frosts can be lethal. The fact is that it matter

Fitting-out time is here again. Because I winter up in the Baltic where the sea still sometimes freezes, my season doesn’t really start until May. It was different when I berthed my 22ft wooden sloop

Thanks to preparation, I wouldn’t be caught napping when warm floods put barbel on the feed – but the river was a hazardous place

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Be prepared for any eventuality when you step outside your door

Tim Steel hones his skills with a proper rough-water test