Country Life UK Magazine - January 29, 2025

In this issue

Friends with benefits - Nematodes are a natural way to halt the march of all manner of garden pests and Charles Quest-Ritson is a convert.

A Palladian premonition - Richard Hewlings offers a fresh analysis of the architecture at Bramham Park, a highy original West Yorkshire country house.

Living in eclectic dreams

Next month's auction at Sworders marks the final chapter in the extraordinary story of the legendary London antique dealer, Guinevere. For 60 years, its highly distinctive approach inspired Mick Jagger, Ralph Lauren, Valentino and generations of interior designers. Its influence has changed the trade forever, says COUNTRY LIFE's interiors editor, Giles Kime

1 min

New link formed in food chain

Supermarkets recognise they need farmers as partners if they are going to stack their shelves

2 mins

A Palladian premonition

Bramham Park, West Yorkshire, part I The home of Nick and Rachel Lane Fox - In the first of three articles, Richard Hewlings examines one of the most original and idiosyncratic houses of early 18th-century Yorkshire and offers a fresh analysis of its architecture

8 mins

Full of the joys of spring(ers)

Big brother to the fashionable cocker, the energetic, enthusiastic and thoroughly endearing English springer remains our most popular working spaniel, says Matthew Dennison

6 mins

Snake, rattle and roll

Imported from India, Snakes and Ladders has been stripped of its demigods, Heaven and other spiritual elements, until only the dice and an ability to count remain, finds Rob Crossan

3 mins

Heard it on the radio

Company, music, news and a glimpse of life beyond: the first form of home-based mass entertainment, radio quickly became the soundtrack to our lives and it isn't going anywhere, says Ben Lerwill

5 mins

Building the dream

Sustainable, stylish and with all the modern benefits, buying a countryside new build can be a tempting proposition

5 mins

Magnificent mahonias

Scented, easy to grow and with many new forms in the pipeline, the once-maligned mahonia is due a renaissance, believes Charles Quest-Ritson

5 mins

Friends with benefits

Charles Quest-Ritson is a convert to the use of nematodes, parasitic worms that act as a biological control of many troublesome garden pests

3 mins

Clashing colours

MINIATURE electric-pink ears are emerging through a tapestry of leaves and bare brown ground. It is January and this is the first wonder of the gardening year. Cyclamen coum also come in paling shades from the plush of ruby to snow white. However, my gardening partner and husband covets only the deepest magenta flowers, combing plant nurseries and DIY shops for the most colour-saturated flowers wriggling through the pots and trays of small heart-shaped leaves. He remarks on the energy of these miniature enamel beauties and says he finds it strengthening. He is, however, not a purist collector and, although he loves to set these garnets on a velvety ground under trees when planting these small corms, he also loves creating swathes of them in grass and beds, all muddled up with snowdrops and winter aconites. Snowdrops, yes, any time, but yellow aconites, Eranthis hyemalis, with puce cyclamen? Really? I, too, rejoice in the fringe of first green the aconites bring, that little lion's mane of chrome, but I recoil rather at the brassy cocktail of lemoncello aconites with the cherry brandy-coloured C. coum, except perhaps in a jug indoors. Isn't this rather sickly? Mr B feels strongly that it all helps to brighten up the dull days of February.

2 mins

Mould and behold

Josiah Wedgwood beat today’s marketing virtuosos by some 260 years, but his remarkable social conscience stands out even more than his talent for business. Tristram Hunt traces the life and legacy of one of Britain’s most brilliant minds

6 mins

Catch us if you can

England will have to fly to overtake runaway favourites France and Ireland in the impending Guinness Six Nations, says Owain Jones, as he sizes up the key players who could change their team's fate

5 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.