In this issue

Fifty shades of green
John Wright investigates some of the more outlandish and risqué techniques plants have developed to spread their seed.

Back to the wall
Fiona Reynolds walks in the footsteps of Roman soldiers on Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland.

Roll out the green carpet
Groundcover has a bad name, but the trick is to pick the right plants, argues John Hoyland..

Back to the wall

Solitary daily pacing of Hadrian's Wall, in the footsteps of Roman soldiers, brings back family memories

2 mins

A Scottish fairy tale

The garden of Aldourie Castle, Loch Ness The home of Mr and Mrs Anders Povlsen The team of owners, designer and gardeners has waved a magic wand over this 500-acre estate, writes George Plumptre, rejuvenating the parkland and arboretum and brilliantly enhancing the castle's heritage with boldly contemporary schemes

5 mins

Tea with Miss Jekyll

GRAHAM STUART THOMAS perhaps the greatest gardener ever was for many years gardens adviser to the National Trust. It was not his only career, because he started his working life as a nurseryman and ended it as the author of many of our most influential books about plants and gardens. But his work for the Trust established the principles by which some 120 gardens were planted, managed and enjoyed. He would have been thrilled to learn that the Trust recently acquired Munstead Wood.

3 mins

Roll out the green carpet

Dusty periwinkles may have given groundcover a bad name, but, as John Hoyland points out, large plantings of a single species can be both practical and key to a garden's design. The trick is to choose the right plants

3 mins

Fifty shades of green

Plants have developed surprising ways of spreading their seed, says John Wright, as he explores the unusual and risqué manner in which some species reproduce

4 mins

An architectural accident

In the first of two articles, John Goodall tells the story of how a stable was replaced by a splendid Regency seat

8 mins

Who are you calling prickly?

Hedgehogs live on the fringes of our world, adored, yet often unwittingly harmed. Spurred by her own encounter with Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, Sarah Sands explores what they tell us about our relationship with Nature and life

6 mins

Plastic fantastic

Not all heroes wear capes, some are more likely to put on the wrong trousers and ask their dog if he wants 'more cheese'. Harry Pearson meets Wallace and Gromit, two of our best-loved Plasticine characters

5 mins

Go with the flow

Scotland's natural capital is proving a boost to its prime property market

5 mins

How to make friends and entertain people

These glorious gardens are the perfect places to enjoy the last of the summer sun

3 mins

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Country Life UK Magazine Description:

Country Life; architecture, gardens, countryside, property, the very best of British life Published by IPC Media. Country Life, the quintessential English magazine, is undoubtedly one of the biggest and instantly recognisable brands in the UK today. It has a unique core mix of contemporary country-related editorial and top end property advertising. Editorially, the magazine comments in-depth on a wide variety of subjects, such as architecture, the arts, gardens and gardening, travel, the countryside, field-sports and wildlife. With renowned columnists and superb photography Country Life delivers the very best of British life every week.