Go west

As one agent tells me, the ‘West Country is the best country’ and, looking at these properties, it’s tough to disagree

The magic of the moors

In the first of an occasional series on Britain’s treeless landscapes, Mark Griffiths examines our ancient fear and fascination with ecologically invaluable moorland, of which we have more than any other country in the world, and makes the case for its protection

A life on the ocean wave

For photographer-turned-trawlerman Paul Quagliana, learning the ropes led to a close encounter with a rat on deck and an arduous, yet rewarding job harvesting the fruits of the sea

Chicken soup for the soul

The rest of the world may laugh, but shepherd’s pie, steak-and-kidney pudding and treacle sponge remain on our menus like old friends, lifting spirits in times of need. Flora Watkins dives into the best of British comfort food

A house of puzzles

''Holcombe Court, Devon, part I The home of Nigel Wiggins'' In the first of two articles, Roger White unravels the development of this magnificent Tudor house and discusses its rich internal decoration

The great green cover-up

There is an awful lot of homework involved in caring for the environment. Jonathan Self separates fact from fiction and debunks 10 of the most prevalent sustainable myths

Natural polish

The Old Vicarage, Warwickshire For her family home, designer Angel Collins has created a relaxed country garden with a smart, contemporary edge. Non Morris pays a visit

‘Everything is art'

With his focus on consumerism, celebrity and counter-culture, Andy Warhol (1928–87) helped to create today’s world. Michael Murray- Fennell considers the influential Pop artist

There's nowhere to hide

Starry new productions of Alan Bennett’s tragicomic Talking Heads are under way, but how do you make a monologue compelling? It’s a test of true acting

Gone birding

The BBC correspondent on his lesser-known role as president of an avian charity

Gardening without plastic

There is a lot of talk about being sustainable, but what actually works? Sally Nex has been experimenting and reports on her finds

Future-proofing your plate

We all want to eat more sustainably, but what does that actually mean? Emma Hughes explores the options

Beach you to it

Britain has a beach for everyone. Rosie Paterson rounds up 10 of the best

A graze success

More and more British farmers are switching to sustainable practices. Jason Goodwin looks at the benefits of these measures and meets six farmers helping in the fight for our planet’s health

A glimpse of the future

The exceptional houses of tomorrow are already being built today, thanks to Paragraph 79

Make This Your Best Year In The Vegetable Garden

Old May Day is the traditional time to sow runner beans. It’s also the perfect time to add some finishing touches to beds and plots, says Val Bourne

Are You Sitting Comfortably?

No rainy picnics, no loo queues, no cost–thanks to the wonders of streaming, Claire Jackson can re-create the summer country-house opera season at home

Making an impression

As the London Original Print Fair exhibits online, Emma Crichton-Miller explores the appeal of original prints for both artists and collectors

Letters from Hillside

In the third of a quarterly series from his Somerset home, plantsman designer Dan Pearson considers the hedges: a haven for wildlife and markers of the landscape

Bring me my spears

Whether steamed and eaten hot with lashings of melted butter or dotted through a fresh-tasting risotto, asparagus is the darling of spring vegetables for Tom Parker Bowles

In the garden: Shelf life

PAINTED by John Nash in 1945, Window Plants shows an old woman, with a cat on her lap, dozing next to her potted plants. I’ve always loved that image and always wanted to have a windowsill wide enough for as many flowers in terracotta pots as I could muster, rather than the indestructible house plants that thrive in airports and hotels.

Tunnel vision

The Private Gardens at Petworth House, West Sussex The home of Lord and Lady Egremont The making of a secluded garden within the landscaped acres has been managed with great charm and panache, reveals Non Morris

An epoch-making idea

Chequers Court, Buckinghamshire, part II By courtesy of the Chequers Trust In 1917, the newly restored Chequers was gifted to the nation as the country seat of Britain’s Prime Ministers. John Goodall turns to a personal diary to explain how this came about

Absolutely marble-ous

Marbled paper has been popular, on and off, since the 9th century. Now it’s enjoying a micro revival

A mysterious affair: the phenomenon of Agatha Christie

It’s 100 years since her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, was published. What is the secret of Agatha Christie’s enduring popularity? Emma Hughes investigates

What the doctor ordered

The virus has put an end to any big adventures, but a local round along a Cotswold canal is proving restorative

Vying for virtual space

Dealers and fairs alike are responding to lockdown challenges in sterling fashion, with online viewing rooms, essays and videos galore

Peas in a pod

I’M not much of a competitive gardener—I’ll marvel at an oversized pumpkin as much as the next person, without any intention of growing one—but I do gamble on an early sowing of peas.

A Londoner who immortalised Georgian life

Francis Wheatley RA (1747–1801) is best known today for his ‘Cries of London’, but, as Matthew Dennison explains, he was also a painter of delightful and accomplished portraits and landscapes

For the love of a longwool

The ancient, golden-fleeced sheep that once drove the British economy are now in need of conservation help. Kate Green reports