CATEGORIES

Cut and come again

Easily identified by their gnarled silhouettes, pollarded trees can be found all over the country. Charles Quest-Ritson looks into the history and origins of this ancient method of tree management

Bright-bulb moments

Sweeps of spring bulbs scatter the lawns in what appears to be an entirely natural show, but is, in fact, a carefully curated selection that flowers in three distinct phases, says Tilly Ware

Newsman makes the news

The collection of a veteran newspaper man comes to auction, as do a Constable sketch and a newly attributed Palma Vecchio

Rose gold

TWENTY years ago, I wrote two rather hefty books - about roses.

A good investment

Any home will benefit from a beautiful antique rug that has been well restored and is regularly cleaned

Flowers of Scotland

Properties north of the Border offer terrific value, tremendous scenery and a taste of the wilderness. What more could you want?

The winner takes it all

Three properties in East Anglia are fine examples of the wealth and beauty that have characterised the region for centuries

Beam me up

At last, help is at hand for anyone blinded by the byzantine complexity of architectural lighting

Lights fantastic

Amelia Thorpe shines a light on the latest designs

What's in a puppy's name?

It may be time to park Rover and consider something more imaginative, says Jonathan Young

How do I measure up?

Arms, feet, local stones and even barleycorn have all played a part in our bid to quantify the world, discovers Ben Lerwill, as he weighs up the stories behind how units of measurement were standardised

Love on the wing

Their plumage might be breathtaking and their calls haunting, but birds behave much like us when it comes to romance, with some looking for stable relationships and others for casual encounters, finds Stephen Moss

Let's stick together

It shouldn't be a case of farming or the environment

Native breeds: Bagot goat

THE striking Bagot goat has a romantic history, possibly the longest of all British goats.

Romans and reivers

A house built on the site of a Roman fort evokes two periods of the distant past. John Martin Robinson reports on the recent revival of the building, including the award-winning restoration of its stables

New Grub Street

'There are no cheery verbal pen pictures to soften issues arising from the poverty of the protagonists'

This is England

May Hill, with its spectacular views lit by winter sun, has a promise of the spring to come, as in Edward Thomas's account of an epic walk

Spring Moon (Reflected In A Pool) by Ivon Hitchens

Charlotte Mullins comments on Spring Moon

Town & Country

In March 2021, photographer and farmer Amy Bateman began a journey to record the stories of 40 farms in the Lake District and Cumbria. Her travels took her from the Lake District commons to the Solway marshes; seeing isolated farmsteads, unchanged for generations, as well as businesses at the cutting edge of innovation. At a time of profound change in the farming industry, these images and conversations present a visual record of farming in a hostile environment, physically, mentally and financially. An exhibition of the images will begin at the Windermere Jetty Museum, Cumbria, on March 4 and the book can be purchased for £29.90 at www.amybatemanphotography.com

'I was entirely comfortable with risk' – Dame Kate Bingham

The former Vaccine Taskforce chair on pandemic preparedness, dementia and jamming

The return of the king

A revitalised England team travels to the birthplace of their revolutionary coach and captain. It seems unlikely that New Zealand will stop them, says James Fisher

Confessions of an avocado eater

Books: Avocado Anxiety | Tally-Ho: Tactical Leadership in the Battle of Britain

I want to be in America

British sellers seem to have found a receptive US audience in New York, where a van Dyck found in a barn sells handsomely

The farce that defies the rules

Michael Frayn's side-splitting Noises Off has a philosophical core that may explain its longevity

Who was Sir Christopher Wren?

Personable, yet naturally reserved, 'that miracle of a youth, Mr Christopher Wren' not only designed many of our most notable monuments, but also an artificial eye. Three centuries on, Clive Aslet considers the man behind the architecture

Kitchen garden cook: Cavolo nero

'Brassicas are the kings of the kitchen garden at this time of year, with cavolo nero adding gentle, tender variety'

Escape to reality

'The barn offers solace from the incessant chatter'

Bring out the bells

The exotic snake's-head fritillary is the only British native of 130 bulbs in this fascinating family, many of which deserve a place in the garden. John Hoyland recommends the best

Bring the outside in

The best plants for conservatories, chosen by Tiffany Daneff

The art of glass

Conservatories, garden rooms and glasshouses to enjoy all year round, selected by Amelia Thorpe