Country Living UK April 2023

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Those who read this letter regularly may recall that a few months back I decided to keep a nature journal. It’s been an absolute tonic, allowing me to chart the changing seasons. Last Sunday’s entry focused on the beauty of skylarks. We’d headed off for our usual dog walk, up the muddy track towards the woods, and I had nothing but our impending kitchen renovation on my mind. Suddenly, my husband John cut through my musings with, “Look at the skylarks – listen to them singing!” It was extraordinary to both hear and watch them hovering over the newly sown crops, rapidly flapping their wings before swooping down to the soil and then starting the process all over again. John said they reminded him of his childhood in Yorkshire and…

TAKE YOUR TIME… TO WHITTLE WOOD Whittling layers of wood away to reveal new forms with a pocketknife in slow, steady movements can be incredibly meditative. It takes minimal investment or skill to try this ancient art, which can be done using almost any kind of wood. Green wood, freshly cut from the tree (or cut it and freeze for later), is easiest, soft with moisture levels that allow the knife to glide through. Whittle freeform under your own steam or take your skills up a notch on a course at Sallerton Wood in Devon, where you can craft spoons and spatulas using traditional tools. From £85 (sallertonwood.org.uk). MEET THE… April fool The origin of April Fools’ Day (1 April) is vague. Research in the 1980s credited Roman Emperor Constantine with its invention,…

Paddling avians prepare to breed in lagoons and estuaries WOOD SANDPIPER Small and long-legged, this delicate speckled shank sifts for insects with its fine bill in shallow water and squelchy mud. KNOT Huge flocks of this stocky, short-legged wader can be found in the estuaries of the Solway Firth, Morecambe Bay and the Thames. GREENSHANK This slim, elegant bird has long green legs and sports a distinctive grey, slightly upturned beak. For more details, visit rspb.org.uk.…

Lindisfarne NORTHUMBERLAND A mile from the Northumbrian mainland, the Holy Island of Lindisfarne is a windswept haven with a rich history of religion, refuge and raids. Reached by a causeway that disappears beneath the sea twice a day, it’s an ideal place to be marooned if you enjoy exploring sand dunes and medieval ruins. Pilgrims come to celebrate at Easter, singing hymns and sea shanties. WHAT TO SEE AND DO Walking is an instinctive activity on this three-mile-long isle. Start at the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve, then head north to discover coves and secret inlets. Routes are well marked (lindisfarne.org.uk). Organise a guided tour with Footsteps in Northumberland to follow paths previously trodden by virtuous saints and dastardly Vikings (from £10; footsteps northumberland.co.uk). Learn more about Holy Island’s history at The Lindisfarne Centre…

Editor’s choice “These delicate casts, hand-pressed by Katy Eccles using flowers from her family’s Fife garden, capture the ephemeral beauty of nature.” Home and crafts editor Alaina Binks Follow @CLArtisans on Instagram to see more unique products from talented makers FOR STOCKISTS see Where to Buy COMPILED BY CARA LASKARIS. PRICES AND AVAILABILITY CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS…