Landscape (UK)

Dear reader...

AT THE BOTTOM of my garden, underneath the birch tree, is a large, red, glazed pot. It is one of my favourite objects in the garden – particularly in March, when it’s crammed with ‘Tête-à-Tête’ daffodils. The contrast of the rich scarlet of the pot...

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MY GARDENING BOOTS stand permanently at their post by the back door. Waiting patiently, with a pair of socks rolled up inside, they are my call to action, and come February, I’m itching to pull them on and get to work. It’s surprising how much growth...

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IHAVE IN MY hand a book of poems that belonged to my grandfather. The opening page contains a tiny drawing of a thatched cottage surrounded by tall trees. A man in a cap is walking away from the house as birds fly overhead. The caption beneath reads:...

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CHRISTMAS MEANS DIFFERENT things to different people. Some would say their favourite part is decorating the tree or sitting down to turkey and all the trimmings. For some, simply sharing the time with others is what they cherish the most. Whatever it...

AUTUMN’S GENTLE TOUCH

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AS A CHILD, I loved visiting my great-grandmother’s house, where it seemed as if everything had a crocheted coat. e sofa cushions were clad in shades of orange, and a garish yellow tea cosy was stretched over the Brown Betty teapot. But the jewel in...

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AFEW YEARS AGO, when I rst took on my allotment, one of the first things I did was plant a pear tree. As I was firming it in, I remember one of the more experienced plot-holders wandering over and questioning why I’d plant something that would grow...

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BEACH HUTS, ICE cream, buckets and spades... the familiar symbols of the British seaside have always appealed to me, as they all represent that special joy evoked by sea and sand that grants everyone the freedom, whatever age, to enjoy childhood...

COUNTRY • HERITAGE • GARDENS • COOKERY • TRAVEL • CRAFT

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LAST SUMMER, THE shops on my local high street joined together to decorate the pavement; each placing a brightly painted chair by their door, with vibrant planting in place of the seat cushion. The deli had a blue chair planted with rich yellow blooms...

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AFEW DAYS AGO, I visited my local museum to see an exhibition of original paintings by book illustrators. I was drawn to it because the artists all illustrated Ladybird books. For many children of the 1940s onwards, these small hardback books were key...

SPRING’S DELICATE GIFTS

The beauty of British country life

BRIGHT AND BREEZY

Secrets of many a wild romance Where Welsh mountains embrace the sea Skilled hands mould pots with bold energy

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AS WINTER BEGINS to mellow, and the daylight hours gradually extend beyond 5pm, the first hint of spring feels almost within reach. The flushed pink blooms of the winterflowering cherry hang like a pastel-coloured cloud above my garden, while, in...

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LOOKING OUT FROM the warmth of the house, it’s hard to imagine anything would choose to grow in the damp air that hovers over the garden like a cold, lifeless blanket, but spurred on by the sense of renewal the new year brings, I’m inspired to get out...

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IRECENTLY FOUND AN old black-andwhite photograph of me in my school Nativity play. I went to a tiny village school, with fewer than 50 pupils, and there was always much anticipation when the parts were handed out. e play always took place in the...

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THERE IS SOMETHING I like about the balance of light and dark in November. e daylight hours are ample for completing a few tasks in the garden, such as planting the last of my tulip bulbs and sweeping up leaves to add to the compost. In the shed, tools...

The beauty of British country life

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IHAVEN’T ENJOYED A fruitful season on my allotment this year. As summer progresses, I usually harvest armfuls of dahlias every time I visit. ey thrive on my plot in a way they don’t at home in the garden, producing giant, jewel-coloured blooms from...

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ON A WALK recently, I spotted a poster for the local summer fair. It brought to mind the school fetes of my childhood. Held on the village playing eld, the perimeter was lined with ramshackle tables, and, in the centre, a makeshift show ring was marked...

DREAMING OF SUMMER

The beauty of British country life