The secret life of one of England's greatest authors, lost behind bad handwriting
A recently acquired memoir by Jane Austen's brother might reveal more about the famous author, but there's a problem — his handwriting is very difficult to read
News
The latest property news and countryside & culture news
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Do you know your apple-catchers from your tittamatorter? Take a crash course in the UK's local languages
With experts warning that regional accents could disappear within decades, our sometimes quaint and, often, bizarre dialect words are becoming ever-more precious.
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The 10 cheapest cities for first-time buyers, where getting on the housing ladder can still be done for £100k
Aberdeen tops the 10-strong ranking of the most affordable places for aspiring homeowners. And guess what? They’re all north of the Watford Gap.
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'Seagull Boy' aged nine from Derby copies seagull, wins European Championship
Having once been nipped by a seagull while eating a tuna sandwich, Cooper Wallace gained the power to perfectly mimic a seagull. He travelled to De Panne in Belgium to put his skills to the test.
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14 things to book today to make the most of the 2024 Summer Season
Music, sport, gardens and more — here are some of the best events to attend this summer.
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Britain's most expensive street outside London, where homes average £2.6 million — and a bare plot is up for sale at £5.5m
Old Avenue in leafy Weybridge, Surrey, tops the list of the most expensive streets to buy a home outside the capital. Annabel Dixon discovers which other addresses made the cut.
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Getting a wiggle on: How 're-wiggling' our rivers can save our countryside
For more than a century, rivers have been straightened. Now, however, meandering projects are going on across the country to encourage ecology, discourage flooding and store water.
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Rare-breed poultry and pigs on the decline according to latest Rare Breed Survival Trust Watchlist
Avian flu combined with higher input prices has had a damaging effect on Britain's native poultry populations, according to the RBST.
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The British Museum is at a nadir in its fortunes — it's a brave person stepping up to take charge
Our cultural columnist Athena on the challenges — the many challenges — for Nicholas Cullinan, the new director of the British Museum.
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After a quick house sale? Here’s where to look
The fastest-selling housing markets, the Easter spike in homes put up for sale, and the 10 most in-demand areas of the home. Here's our round-up of what's happening in the world of bricks and mortar.
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Farmers warn of looming food crisis after 'wettest winter in 150 years'
'To still be underwater in spring is unheard of. Our whole arable operation is on hold.'
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The house in Wales where there are so many bees honey comes out of the walls
At Plas yn Rhiw, urgent roof repairs are being carried out by the National Trust. The only problem? The 50,000 bees that live there.
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Exclusive: First look at trailer for 'Wilding', the documentary of the Knepp Estate
Isabella Tree's hugely successful book about the rewilding project at her and her husband's estate in West Sussex will hit the big screen on June 14. Country Life was given a sneak-peak at the trailer, below.
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Why do we get so many April showers?
It's the time of year when a torrential downpour can come and go in minutes — or drench one side of the street while leaving the other side dry. It's all to the good for growing, says Lia Leendertz as she takes a look at the weather of April.
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'Where birds and a wild Englishman roamed': The world's first nature reserve granted listed status
Waterton Park in West Yorkshire was the 'prototype for the modern nature reserve', and has been rewarded by Historic England with protection. Annie Elwes tells the story of the man behind it.
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A look inside Derek Jarman's Prospect Cottage
A new book by the photographer Gilbert McCarragher will give readers a first-look inside Derek Jarman's famous home on the shingle of Dungeness.
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Counting butterflies to calm the anxious mind
A new study suggests that taking the time to watch and count butterflies can reduce anxiety, as well as providing vital information in the fight for nature.
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From smashed glass to smashing teas: The restoration of a 300-year-old glass-roofed teahouse full of historic camellias
The Georgian teahouse at Wentworth Woodhouse has undergone a multi-million pound restoration which has saved the centuries-old camellias which grow within.
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The architect whose grand designs bring inspiration and beauty to the British countryside
Richard Hawkes joins James Fisher to talk about architecture, the British landscape, and what it's like to see your own house appear on Grand Designs.
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Leading museums and attractions slowly returning to pre-Pandemic levels, with London leading the way
According to the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, visitor numbers were up by 19% last year.
