These damp, still days of late autumn, when the lawn is soft and green, are ideal for topdressing, a way of investing in its health after a year of trampling. Spike the lawn all over, then shovel a mixture of sand and shredded compost thinly and evenly over the whole surface. Using the back of a rake, the flat tines of a fork and a broom, work this mixture gradually into the holes and the base of the grass blades. Rain and earthworms, the true measure of a healthy lawn, will do the rest. It's very good exercise, too.
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At the Snowdon Summer School, the future of design lies in the traditions of the past'It was the first time that I had ever been around people who shared my interest in making furniture at such a high level — and who shared my passion for fine furniture.'
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A castle for sale just down the road from Gleneagles, where everyone from George VI to a farmer and his pigs once roamed the grand hallsOrchil Castle has seen it all in a tumultuous century and a half — but it's getting back to its best, and now needs a brave new owner to take it on the next step of its journey.
