Country Living UK June 2021

I’ve recently undertaken the task of clearing out my late parents’ house. It’s been an emotional and cathartic experience. Like many of their generation, my parents threw little away. There were so many family treasures, worthless to anyone else but of huge sentimental value to me. This includes some school exercise books from my kindergarten days. My mother had kept them in a box with other ‘handcrafted’ bits and bobs. As I flicked through the yellowing pages, one story stood out, about a golden eagle we had spotted during a holiday. It was a vivid and poignant reminder of the happy times my brother and I spent with our parents in Scotland. My father always encouraged us to observe our natural surroundings. I recall him pointing out ospreys, capercaillies, red…

“What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfilment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade?” Gertrude Jekyll Back from the brink THE WHITE COW Descended from white cattle that roamed the land when Britain was joined to the rest of Europe, the Vaynol is one of our rarest native breeds. Small and slender with upturned horns, there are fewer than 150 of this semi-feral cow left, with populations limited to Lincolnshire and Scotland, and most owned by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. This year, however, the Tait family have welcomed Snow, a Vaynol calf, to their farm near Edinburgh. A second calf is due this summer. rbst.org.uk OF THE…

Brecon Beacons SOUTH WALES A spectacular range of mountains presides over moorlands and glacial lakes at this national park – one of three in Wales. In summer, spot merlins, ring ouzels and the elusive wheatear, or just take in the carpets of wild flowers… WHAT TO SEE AND DO Lush valleys and breathtaking waterfalls feature throughout this ancient landscape. In the midst of Fforest Fawr, the Four Falls Trail winds through woodland and deep-cut gorges, passing Sgwd Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn and Sgwd y Pannwr on the Mellte River. For a family-friendly climb, start from Pont ar Darf – or, if you’re a hardened hiker, the nine-mile Horseshoe Ridge Walk will put you through your paces (visitwales.com). Keen to enjoy the beauty of the area without breaking into a sweat? Book a seat…

Follow @CLArtisans on Instagram for news of our The Good Life online markets this year and to see more unique products from talented makers FOR STOCKISTS see Where to Buy…

One of my daughters told me an interesting factoid recently: if bees were paid the minimum wage, a jar of honey would cost £142,000. A quick check online tells me that the exact amount seems to be up for some discussion, but I think we can safely agree it would be a lot of money. As each bee will only make about one-twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime, there is no question they work extremely hard for scant recompense. We are lucky to reap the rewards from their endeavour. I shall savour my morning sourdough toast and honey with even greater relish having learned just how much effort it takes to get it to my table. Bees are our friends in so many ways and, as a gardener,…