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How sniffer dogs have moved on from drugs and bombs to Japanese knotweed
Kat Janczur spent years training dogs to sniff out drugs and explosives. Today, she and her canine companions have a very different quarry: Japanese knotweed.
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How 'levelling-up' in the Arts has backfired for regional theatres: 'It's the guillotine, not the salami-slicer'
London and the South of England have long been the primary beneficiaries of Arts funding, but is the Government’s latest plan to ‘level up’ actually doing the opposite? Claire Jackson investigates.
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The traditional British toy makers still crafting wooden tops, rocking-horses and teddy bears
From automata to wooden dogs with jointed legs, members of the British Toymakers Guild have crafted a cornucopia of intriguing playthings that are not only for children, says Claire Jackson.
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The 21st century sword maker: 'There’s something appealing about getting metal hot and smacking it with a hammer'
Practising ancient techniques to craft modern heirlooms, bladesmith Owen Bush handmakes both decorative and practical knives or weaponry, each with their own personalities, says Claire Jackson — with some of his swords celebrities in their own right. Photographs by Richard Cannon for Country Life.
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Eco-friendly jewellery and accessories made from ‘sea diamonds’, computer wire and an unlikely kitchen utensil
In a world where everything is increasingly durable and worryingly disposable, those making quirky accessories from cast-offs are doing both the planet and our wardrobes a favour, says Claire Jackson.
