Songs from the garden of Eden: Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato talks to Henrietta Bredin about gardening, keeping busy and singing to save the planet
The bloodhound gang: Lolloping, intelligent, with the best nose in the business, a bloodhound is worth the slobber, believes Katy Birchall
Think big: It’s increasingly easy to emulate Capability Brown and transform your garden in mere moments by planting mature trees, reports Charles Quest-Ritson
Martin Brudnizki’s favourite painting: The interior designer chooses a richly coloured abstract
It’s a game of snakes and ladders: Jamie Blackett embraces inflation with a rare holiday
Masterpiece: Jack Watkins admires Thomas Hardy’s first major success, Far From the Madding Crowd
English homes old and new: In part two of our anniversary series, John Goodall studies the 15th-century household
A brush with history: Family-run company Hillbrush is celebrating its 100th birthday in fine style, finds Julie Harding
Twinkle, twinkle ancient stars: A 3,600-year-old bronze ‘sky disc’ is the centrepiece of a new exhibition, finds Vicky Liddell
A lack of common knowledge: The ancient commoning system is good for farmer and land alike, yet is under threat, discovers Octavia Pollock
Travel: Luxuriating in St Tropez, France
The good stuff: Hetty Lintell on specs appeal
Interiors: Amelia Thorpe finds extra space
Kitchen garden cook: Melanie Johnson on carrots
Pure acting: The performance is all that’s needed for Michael Billington