Country diary: A modest defence of the Himalayan balsam flower
Witton-le-Wear, County Durham: This non-native fixture of the English countryside is much maligned, but they are of increasing importance to our bees
July 2024
Country diary
Country diary: An alarmingly bad day searching for butterflies
Country diary
Country diary: There’s reason to love the unpopular cranefly
Tell us: if you’ve booked a last minute summer holiday, share why and where you are going
A few days of sunshine won’t fool me – we’re in the UK’s worst summer ever
Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett
Hollyhocks: these spears of floral trumpets are back, heralding high summer
Country diary
Country diary: The glory of a steaming pile of muck
Brief letters
Head rules the heart in French elections
59 summer problems solved – from sunburn and sweating to wasps and wedgies
June 2024
Country diary
Country diary: Signs of summer are … here somewhere
Shipley, West Yorkshire: The mood around the pond is sullen, birds peck at the empty cricket pitch – thank goodness for the zing of pineapple from the wild camomile
Tell us: are you making a change to your summer holidays?
Whether it’s holidaying domestically or heading to a destination with a cooler climate, we’d like to hear about anything you’re doing differently this year
Country diary
Country diary: The glorious cycle of life is reaching its annual peak
West Norwood, London: Beyond the obvious vibrancy of attention-seeking flowers, there’s plenty to see in this modest haven
May 2024
Jess Cartner-Morley on fashion
Yes, you can wear shorts to the office. But how?
Country diary
Country diary: A silent killer that loves the long days
Millions in US face extreme-heat threat as experts urge better protections
Country diary
Country diary: Cherry blossom has given way to apple blossom
Country diary
Country diary: Explosive but elusive, what a bird the Cetti’s warbler is
Country diary
Country diary: The lizards are out, basking and, perhaps, breeding
UK set for hottest day of year on Sunday at 27C – followed by thunderstorms
They’re cute, citrussy and completely different: try growing a cucamelon
