Country Diary

Far from being the problem, modern game management could well be the solution as we look to safeguard England’s important natural sites

Ants for the English

We don’t often think of ants as being vitally important but when they disappeared in 1970, the partridges went with them, writes Tower-Bird

Puppy love?

They’d steal pies and pilfer underpants, but Richard Negus looks back at his days of puppy walking with unexpected fondness

The good life

Six large pigs become the latest chapter in a year-long attempt not to buy meat

Wildfowlers face worrying future in sport's heartland

Clubs on the Morecambe Bay and Humber Estuary fight existential threat after Natural England refuses to renew crucial consents

The mighty stags of the English lowlands

Size isn’t everything but if you’re after a big red stag this season the Highlands aren’t the place to go looking says Patrick Laurie

Mercedes-Benz G-Class £94,000

It may be the glitzy 4x4 choice of oligarchs and footballers, but Ed Coles relishes the opportunity to put Stuttgart’s old stager to the test off-road

Lough Currane flyfishing

You couldn’t wish for a more idyllic experience than fly fishing on a wild Irish lough. But beneath the still waters, all is not well

Be brave: go exotic

David Tomlinson suggests some unusual gundog breeds for the adventurous Gun who fancies something a little bit different

Finding order in the chaos

As lockdown eases, Megan Rowland gets back out on the hill to be greeted by a thriving world, and a happy, unexpected sight

Back to basics

In a bid to boost his shoot-to-kill ratios, Simon Garnham goes back to school to reacquaint himself with the basic principles of shooting

Anti-shooting outfit wins judicial review

Wild Justice will get its day in court this October, causing concern for rural communities already struggling in the wake of the lockdown

A Plague Of Spiders

Delicious spider crabs are found in abundance off the coast of the UK, so why does nobody eat them any more?

Trappings of success in rat-catching quest

Designing and making your own rat traps can be a puzzling game of ‘cat and mouse’, but Soldier Palmer relishes the lockdown challenge

The cherry plum on top

These early-blooming edibles are a surprisingly common find and are delicious on their own or in a cherry vodka, notes John Wright

Suits you, sir

Forget love at first sight, buying a new gun should be a slow process, says Tom Payne

The fair and the foul

The fulmar is a kind-looking bird with an interesting history – and some unusual traits

Saving the Englishmen

In a bid to protect his linseed crop and a cherished pair of grey partridges, Simon Garnham sets out his decoys and gets to work

Country Diary

Nature is said to work in peaks and troughs, and 2020 is looking like being a bumper year for curlews. Now all they have to do is survive...

In search of your ferret's true colours

There is no truth in the idea that a ferret’s colour affects how it works, says Simon Whitehead, but it may have an impact on you

Muntjac Manoeuvres

Muntjac are much more likely to respond to the cry of a distressed family member than a potential mate

Give a little whistle

Calling in roe can be very effective but it takes time to get good at it, says Henry Tegner, and the prettiest calls aren’t always the bestw

What A Load Of Pollacks!

A beautiful afternoon, a deserted harbour and a little boat — all you need to catch a pollack for supper is a bit of luck, says Barry Stoffell

Where there's smoke

Meat has long been preserved and flavoured by curing and smoking, and it’s surprisingly easy to do it in your garden, says Tim Maddams

Ticking all the boxes

Dealing with the scourge of ticks comes with the territory for dog owners — but it’s a battle that can be won, insists David Tomlinson

Salvation in County Durham

Emerging, slowly, from the deprivations of lockdown, now is the time to savour the beauty we are lucky to have all around us

Rural craft

In the 21st century, many old skills are no longer needed; we celebrate those that part of our rich rural culture

Money well spent

Paying a guide to put you under geese lacks the joy of finding birds yourself but it can still be a fine experience, writes Jamie Tusting

Love thine enemy

It is a strange irony of pest control that the more time you spend out in the field shooting vermin, the more you come to respect your target species as remarkable foe

Life after lockdown

The COVID-19 crisis may have strengthened the bond between you and your dogs, writes Ellena Swift, but now’s the time to plan ahead