What’s in this issue?
There’s something about eating outdoors that’s peculiarly good for us. Maybe it’s the fresh air, the connection with nature, the sunshine on our skin (hopefully), or simply the change of scenery. In her regular column, chef Miranda Gore Browne waxes lyrical about her own family traditions of grabbing ‘food-laden plates’ and heading outdoors for supper under the sun. She’s also got some handy and rather delicious-looking ideas for BBQs and picnics, including tarragon chicken with green summer veg and a summer berry shortbread cobbler. Although the shifting moods of the British weather can make al fresco eating a bit of a challenge, let’s hope we can break the mould and enjoy the opportunity this summer.
Elsewhere, this edition has a 25-page history special looking at subjects as diverse as unlocking the secrets of British heraldry, rope-making, historic houses and we go behind-the-scenes at the fascinating Keighley and Worth Valley vintage railway.
Meanwhile, the unhappy saga of the family farm tax continues, with the NFU steadfast in its call for a compromise that doesn’t jeopardise the food-producing engine of the rural economy.
Also
in this edition…
- Stop the family farm tax - The campaign to stop the damaging family farm tax continues and we provide you with all the latest campaign news
- New beginnings - Lorna Maybery meets an enterprising couple on a steep learning curve after taking on the family farming business
- Lessons in farming – NFU campaigns to put British food and farming onto the school curriculum
- Miranda Gore Browne has some handy suggestions for al fresco eating, including a delicious summer berry shortbread cobbler
- Three things I can’t live without… With Reuben Owen from TV’s ‘My Life in the Dales’
- Test your grey matter with our quizzes, crossword, word searches and puzzles!
- A brief history of British brewing - If you prefer something stronger than tea, it’s probably fair to say that beer is our national drink – and it’s got a long and fascinating history, reveals Clare Hunt
- Thinking of buying a puppy? Carolyn Menteith looks at some vital steps to getting it right – for both you and your dog
- Feathered Focus – what habitat do chickens prefer? Plus, spotlight on the Bresse Gauloise breed
- Decoding British heraldry - Wherever you look, from our national flags to carvings on ancient buildings, you can see heraldic designs. Clare Hunt attempts to crack their elusive code
- Making their mark - As the Landmark Trust celebrates its 60th anniversary, Kate Chapman takes a look at what the organisation stands for and some of the quirky properties it has saved for posterity
- In Pictures - Behind the scenes at the Keighley and Worth Valley vintage railway
