Calling on Dr Carrot and Potato Pete

During wartime rationing the British became both inventive and green-fingered. Culinary skills we are, perhaps, appreciating today

Art in the field

Argentinian sculptor Hernán Álvarez Forn tells Janet Menzies how a childhood among horses and the discovery of raku has shaped his work

A farewell to hounds

The role of huntsman or Master is a huge commitment for small remuneration. But handing back the horn isn’t easy, as several former incumbents explai

The Wye and its slippery customers

Renowned for its salmon, the river once teemed with eel, too. No longer. So what is behind this poorly reported wildlife crime?

The art of the master engraver

A best gun is undoubtedly characterised by the finest manufacture; today, it is often defined by the fine art that adorns it, too

The school of roquefort

Lovers of artisan produce can now attend the Academy of Cheese and learn what it takes to be a master of the board

Teen spirit and the Ten Tors

Sixty years ago this month, three Army offi cers organised an expedition on Dartmoor to give young civilians a taste of outdoor adventure. Today, 2,400 teenagers annually are rising to that challenge

Keeping it in the family

There’s one criterion a family firm must meet to join the Tercentenarian Club: 300 years in business

In full flight on Dartmoor

Falcons flown by enthusiasts mounted on former racehorses produced thrilling sport against a dramatic backdrop

Kindling the fire of enthusiam

We may never replicate the achievements of the fishing greats but their elegant prose has inspired generations to pick up a rod

How does a trout catch a fly?

Understanding how a trout recognises a fly and then intercepts it is key to your choice of fly – and success

Feathering their nests

An obsession with fly-tying led to a bizarre theft from the Natural History Museum and huge sums changing hands. Fact can be stranger than fiction…

Dukedoms of hazard

When Princes William and Harry were made royal dukes, their titles were chosen with care. Some carry rather too much history…

Top 10 Gundog Crimes

There are times when we, as gundog owners and handlers, wish the ground would swallow us up. Fear not. Here are the cures for the worst sins

Resurrecting a Purdey rook rifle

After searching for a decade, the writer finally acquired a now-obsolete rook rifle. But could the Purdey, formerly the property of a 19th-century playboy, be adapted for muntjac?

Letting our oldest vertebrate back in

Glaciers and waterwheels have blocked the path of the salmon, our oldest native vertebrate. Can it, yet again, stage a comeback?

Rage against the machine

Do those ‘Buy’ buttons really conspire against you, wonders Roger Field. Or is it just that too many of us have the same impeccably good taste?

Of love and lettuces

As we hand over Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies, it’s timely to consider the worship of fertility throughout the ages

FAIR Iside 20-bore

This lightweight, Italian side-by-side won’t break the bank – but it had no trouble breaking clays. Michael Yardley is impressed

Battle for the uplands

The cessation of grouse-moor management will end a way of life – and perhaps call time for a number of our iconic species, too

Barnstorming businesses

The cows and threshing machines have gone but a diverse range of businesses is breathing new life into our derelict farm buildings

Putting Britain on the map

Ordnance Survey owes much to the remarkable work of William Mudge, who died 200 years ago this month.

1750-1930 Creating the foxhunting interior

Great halls, libraries, art and furniture have been used to venerate venery, creating the perfect environment for reflecting on the day

Mountains high

Upper Donside’s mountain hare population is thriving, thanks to the work of grouse keepers like Alex Jenkins

Rizzini ‘Grand Regal' 20-bore

The Regals represent a significant step in the evolution of the Rizzini range, says Michael Yardley, offering good shooting qualities as well as value for money

It's my obsession

Collecting is an admirable hobby, agrees Roger Field, as a collection of Winchesters came to the market. But to what lengths should you go to add to your hoard?

The battle over saving the hen harrier

A Government-backed recovery plan should have ended the controversy surrounding this bird of prey; however, the conflict continues

Securing wildlife habitat for the future

Since its inception in 1986, the Wildlife Habitat Trust has helped clubs and projects across the UK to acquire land and enhance conservation

Create your own nature reserve

With a little effort and for minimal cost, we can all have more wildlife in our countryside and towns

Riding the high moor

Once a year, the Two Bridges Hunt Club unites the four hunts that call Dartmoor home, for dinner and a day’s challenging sport