Country Living UK May 2022

It’s an early spring morning; the sun is peering above the horizon and the trees – full of blossom – are swaying in the breeze. As I stare out of my office window, two muntjacs stroll nonchalantly across the lawn, pausing to graze in the flowerbeds. Blissfully unaware of the troubles in the world, they are a poignant reminder of the beauty of nature and how it can be a soothing balm in uncertain times. Returning to the task in hand, I take a final look at the issue and feel a huge sense of gratitude towards our talented features team. They have excelled at finding just the right mix of positive and meaningful stories this month, with a focus on people who are passionate about preserving the natural world. Our…

“It was the month of May, the month when the foliage of herbs and trees is most freshly green, when buds ripened and blossoms appear in their fragrance and loveliness.”Le Morte d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory TAKE YOUR TIME TO… work Shire horses Experience the satisfaction of tending the earth behind a pair of Shire horses, enjoying the creak of the harness and the thud of hooves as they tread the ground. At Old Hall Farm in the Lake District, day courses teach you the basics of working these native giants, originally bred as battle steeds for Henry VIII. Learn to groom and tack the pair, then take the reins for tasks that, depending on the time of year, include harrowing, grass cutting and ploughing. A ploughman’s lunch in the sunshine rounds…

Editor’s choice “Each one of these pretty dishes is unique. They are made by pressing an individual leaf into the hand-rolled clay before covering it in a homemade coloured slip. They are food safe or can be used to hold jewellery or a candle.” Follow @CLArtisans on Instagram to see more unique products from talented makers FOR STOCKISTS see Where to Buy COMPILED BY AND WORDS BY CARA LASKARIS. PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRIS COONEY; ASTRID TEMPLIER. PRICES AND AVAILABILITY CORRECT AT THE TIME OF GOING TO PRESS…

If anyone mentions the word ‘rhubarb’, I instantly go into ‘Did you know?’ mode. Not only is it a vegetable, not a fruit, but in medieval times it was much more important as a cure than as a comfort food. Writing at the end of the 16th century, the English herbalist John Gerard recommended rhubarb for all kinds of grisly complaints, from pleurisy to the ‘bloody flux’ (dysentery) and everything in between. I can’t imagine that rhubarb made a jot of difference to our poor medieval ancestors, but the appeal of this extraordinary vegetable lives on in the country’s delicious desserts and savoury dishes. Alongside everyone’s school favourite – rhubarb crumble – these blush-pink stalks also make amazing jellies, curds, drinks, chutneys, cakes and much more besides. Rhubarb also makes a…

1 What’s so special about rhubarb? The bright pinks and crimsons of early forced rhubarb have my heart. The colour of the stems and the white interior look so appealing and appetising. 2 Is forced better than au naturel? Both kinds work brilliantly for different things. If it’s going to be on show, I’ll use the stems of early rhubarb; if it’s covered with pastry or a crumble topping, I use the bolder, greener varieties, which have a great robust flavour. 3 Favourite rhubarb recipe? I love using the delicate, forced stems on the top of baked fruit tarts. By nestling cut pieces into frangipane (see left), you can create beautiful patterns. Just gather together as much as you can so you have plenty to play around with, cut it into strips, chunks or squares…

SMALL IS bountiful No matter how large or small your garden, you can still help to boost our bee population, says the British Ecological Society (BES). Tracking the nectar production of 59 city gardens, researchers at Bristol University found that modest residential plots can offer a more reliable food supply than farmland. The key is to stock up on pollinator-friendly plants: the BES recommends open or ‘snout-shaped’ blooms whose nectar is easy to access, and purple flowers that can be seen easily by bees. Also look out for the RHS ‘plants for pollinators’ tag in garden centres. DID YOU KNOW… …the Woodland Trust has planted 50 million trees in the past 50 years? The Trust, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, aims to plant a further 50 million by 2025, including dozens…