Recording neighbourhood nature helps us protect wildlife - and ourselves

Recently, two otters appeared separately in our village. At the same time, three great white egrets - large, still-rare white herons - turned up, too.

Former industrial workhorses, canals now have a new lease of life

Thomas Telford is one of my great heroes - a Scottish shepherd’s son born in 1757 who was one of the first, and possibly the greatest, of a new breed of men who changed the face of Britain by criss-crossing it with canals, roads, railways, bridges, viaducts and aqueducts.

NEW FOREST RESTORATION PROJECT TO BENEFIT UK'S RAREST REPTILES

The sand lizard, smooth snake and adder will get a habitat revamp in a large-scale heathland project in the New Forest National Park

The legacies of the Romans are all around us

From Exeter to the Moray Firth, the Roman occupation made its mark on the British Isles.

Q&A The big questions answered

Which Scottish clans were the most powerful?

Guernsey's West Coast

As the Channel Islands celebrates 80 years since being liberated, we walk Guernsey's rugged western coast and encounter a land of unique beauty and Nazi-era relics

GOSHAWKS SPREAD THEIR WINGS

After bouncing back from extinction in the UK, research shows this elusive 'phantom of the forest' is expanding its range

HUNDREDS OF DINOSAUR FOOTPRINTS FOUND ON SKYE

Rare fossilised tracks give scientists remarkable new insights into the lives of two dinosaur species

A NEW NATIONAL FOREST TAKES ROOT

Project will see 20 million trees planted in England by 2050, to benefit people and wildlife

TOP 10 BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC GARDENS

The UK is blessed with more historic gardens than you can shake a rake at. Here are Dixe Wills' favourites

Back to the future

The Second World War revolutionised British agriculture - could a similar reset help us navigate today's climate and nature crises? In the second of our farming series, Nicola Chester asks what we can learn from the 'national farm' of the 1940s

THE SECRET PIGEON SERVICE

Secret spymasters. Daring espionage. The story of how homing pigeons helped liberate Western Europe in the Second World War is a remarkable tale of resistance

Bakewell tart

This traditional crowd-pleaser started life as a spin-off from the luxurious Bakewell pudding,says food historian

THE ROAD MOST TRAVELLED

Author Rob Cowen takes a personal journey along the Great North Road, through history, place and memory

Go with the flow

Turn off Scotland's North Coast 500 and you'll find Europe's largest blanket bog, a magical land that's just gained UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Richard Baynes gets up close to the Flow Country

THE COTSWOLD OLIMPICKS

Britain's Olympic history began in the time of Shakespeare with an extravagant crowd-pleasing event supported by royalty

Britain's best archaeological finds

Wherever you walk in Britain, beneath your feet there may lurk remnants of a long-vanished civilisation. History buff Dixe Wills goes on a tour of his favourite discoveries

Responsible dog ownership is crucial for a healthy, harmonious countryside

Our local dog trainer, Colin Thomas, is about to retire and we are bereft. There won't be a dry eye in the arena on the farm at his last training session.

Q&A The big questions answered

\"Fermentation gives sourdough its characteristic tangy flavour and chewiness\"

DEFY ageing

Growing older brings changes in the way your body works, some of which can reduce your quality of life. We have strategies to help you stay healthier for longer

The future of farming

Our food systems are under huge pressure and major change is on its way. In the first of our future of farming series, we report from the Oxford Farming Conference to see how the agricultural world is facing the headwinds

NOW GO THERE

Fi Darby on where to eat, sleep and visit on Dartmoor

DAUGHTERS OF THE SOIL

After many centuries mostly in supporting roles, women in agriculture are becoming more visible. In her new exhibition, visual artist and farm labourer Joanne Coates chronicles the everyday lives of female farmers

Hero of the hedgerow

Once a dying craft, hedgelaying is in the throes of a revival. West Country woodsman and tamer of thorn and briar Paul Lamb is on a mission to keep centuries-old methods alive

Riding the rails

In his latest book, Nige Tassell travelled to the end of the line on 16 routes across Britain, discovering just how vital our railways still are to locals and tourists alike. And all without a single delay...

Secret Dartmoor

Romantic tors, ancient history, friendly pubs, waterfalls and pretty villages – Dartmoor National Park offers the perfect escape. Fi Darby reveals the moor's hidden delights

Your countryside

HAVE YOUR SAY ON RURAL ISSUES

Power of the path

With the film adaptation of The Salt Path incoming, Vivienne Crow chats to author Raynor Winn on how the book changed her life and what it's like to see Gillian Anderson play her on the big screen

TOP 10 BRITAIN'S TOUGHEST CHALLENGES

Prepare to be amazed and inspired by these extreme tests of mind and body, plus some easier alternatives

COLOSSAL IRON AGE HOARD FOUND BY DETECTORIST

Chariots, cauldrons and ceremonial spears – over 800 items unearthed in Yorkshire alter our perceptions of ancient Britain