Bob Cooper of Macclesfield, Cheshire remembers: From an early age, I have always loved reading and writing. My best subject at school was English to the detriment of maths, and I managed to become top

Nature needs time to adapt to changing conditions,

Often associated with the much-loved Wind in the Willows, the beloved water vole is a welcome addition to Britain’s waterways. However, unfortunately the creatures are currently endangered in Britain.

October brings the first of the frosts, bewitching mist, the turning of leaves and a host of otherworldly visitors, finds John Lewis-Stempel

Marian Boswall defends the building of lakes, which bring both beauty and biodiversity

Unfairly maligned as a sneaky troublemaker, the quicksilver ferret is a characterful, curious and highly intelligent creature–with fascinating regal and cultural trappings to boot, writes Octavia Pollock