NDC NOW THAT autumn is stealing in on us from the hedge bottoms like a musty amber vapour and the evenings are feeling much cooler and shorter, it is time for that great annual treat of shaking the moths out of the tweeds.
My relationship with Tinea pellionella, the case-bearing clothes moth, is both obsessive and fiery because we live in an old, damp house that is full of tweed and taxidermy. This is effectively like the Food Hall of Fortnum's to those tiny, powdery destroyers or, more correctly, their hateful little grubs.
But I digress. My battery of Haggarts Pattern 101 sporting tweeds is so hairy and tough that the moth larvae break their teeth on it and it emerges gloriously unscathed at this time of the year. The cashmere might look like the ensign off the stern of HMS Victory at Trafalgar but the tweeds live on.
As a daily wearer of the flat cap, it is now at least starting to earn its keep again after a summer of being left on the dashboard or stuffed in a coat pocket. The cooler weather means that other titfer treats can be retrieved from antlers or cupboards and put to good use again. I particularly enjoy a good fore-and-aft or deerstalker (with or without flaps) when woodcock shooting in the worst westerly weather. That rain-catcher on the back is a wonderful piece of design and keeps the dry-collared morale up all day.
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Strength in Numbers -The success of Britain's growing band of Farmer Clusters shows the value in working together and engaging with the public in the name of conservation, says Gabriel Stone
In a world that leans into gloomy headlines, it's important to wave the flag for a refreshing success story. That's especially the case when it comes to our overburdened farming sector and the wider way in which we manage the landscape. Yes, we: everyone can play a role, not least through one inspirational initiative. Ever since a 2013 pilot project by the GWCT in association with Natural England, Farmer Clusters have mushroomed across Britain. Led by farmers with guidance from expert advisers, today's network of about 125 clusters encourages a cohesively managed, locally tailored, larger-scale approach to conservation work.
Going over old ground
Forget modern tractors and minimum tillage - there is something glorious about the sight of farmer, horse and vintage plough in perfect harmony
Return of the natives
There is nothing as satisfying as creating a magical miniature woodland or conservation hedgerow using our native trees - and now is the best time to start.
Tagging the Cornish tunny
Enormous Atlantic bluefin tuna are once again making waves in UK waters almost a century after their showstopping appearance in the North Sea
In it for the long haul
It may have fallen out of favour at the elite level but long-format three-day eventing is still proving popular with grassroots riders
Unpicking the story of hunt buttons
These treasured tokens are bestowed only upon those who go above and beyond in service of their hunt but the rules around them can be complex
A place of tradition in the heart of town
Cordings has helped shape the sartorial landscape of Britain for 185 years, with its classic country tailoring a firm staple of many sporting wardrobes
Don't play it by ear
Hearing loss can have a devastating impact on day-to-day life, making ear protection a non-negotiable piece of field kit
Back to base-ics
Britain's famously unpredictable climate can make staying comfortable in the field a challenge but the right under layers can be a game changer
Stand and deliver
A good stance provides the platform for shotgun marksmanship and is fundamental to consistent success in the field or breaking clays
