Comment & Opinion
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Affordable, sustainable, rural: How a group of volunteers embarrassed the government and built some of the best new homes in the country
Hazelmead has won almost every RIBA award going. The development on the outskirts of Bridport might be a springboard for a rural housing revolution, much like the Arts-and-Crafts movement more than a century ago.
By Tim Abrahams Published
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William Hanson: Why etiquette must evolve to suit modern life
Noodle slurping and the left-handed taboo. The king of modern manners details the evolution of proper conduct in his latest book.
By William Hanson Published
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Athena: In the eyes of Government, will the Arts always be last?
After a year of Labour rule, life doesn't seem to be getting any better for Britain's cultural institutions.
By Athena Published
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Agromenes: 'See it. Say it. Sorted. This is truly where Britain is broken'
Country Life's Cultural Crusader rails against the constant annoying reminders of how we should live our lives.
By Agromenes Published
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Will Hosie: I'm bored of West End remakes — risky business should be the norm, not the anomaly
Is the West End becoming a broken record?
By Will Hosie Published
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In our built heritage, is the truth stranger than fiction?
Athena considers how our historic buildings are presented in an age of film and television.
By Athena Published
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Will Hosie: In defence of gatekeeping and why we have to stop confusing TopJaw with proper critique
Modern audiences expect critics to keep up with the times, but it's always been their job to keep some places under wraps.
By Will Hosie Published
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Defanging the Gardens Trust will hurt our most precious landscapes
The Government has proposed to remove the Garden Trust's position as a statutory consultee in planning permissions for up to 1,700 historic landscapes and gardens in order to speed up building.
By Country Life Published
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Art saved for the nation? Not enough, it would seem
The recent publication of a report on export control of art from the UK makes depressing reading.
By Athena Published
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The quiet corner of Suffolk where the country pub is thriving — and why it matters
Pubs are more than just a place for a drink, they are the heartbeat of rural communities. Agromenes celebrates their survival.
By Agromenes Published
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Opinion: If we want to keep our architectural heritage, why do we tax those who repair it?
It beggars belief that the state lists buildings in order to protect them — and then doesn’t contribute to their upkeep, says Country Life columnist Agromenes.
By Country Life Published
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Roger Morgan-Grenville: We need to reset our children's connection to nature — and it starts at school
Our schools can — and must — lead the way in teaching the next generation the incalculable value of the natural world.
By Roger Morgan-Grenville Published
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William Kendall: 'We need to build a lot more solar farms and some wind turbines, too'
The thought of losing of productive arable land to renewable-energy developments can be dispiriting and alarming, but informed local knowledge may be the key to their successful design.
By William Kendall Published
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The profitability of agriculture underpins everything in the countryside. Confidence is at rock bottom
Weather, taxes and no subsidy. It's not a great time to be producing food in Britain. Agromenes sounds the alarm.
By Country Life Published
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The National Gallery rehang: 'It is a remarkable feat to hang more with the feeling of less', but the male gaze is still dominant
Almost everything on display at the National Gallery has been moved — and paintings never previously seen brought out — in one of the the biggest curatorial changes in the Gallery's history.
By James Elwes Published
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Exploring the countryside is essential for our wellbeing, but Right to Roam is going backwards
Campaigners in England often point to Scotland as an example of how brilliantly Right to Roam works, but it's not all it's cracked up to be, says Patrick Galbraith.
By Patrick Galbraith Published
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Minette Batters: 'It would be wrong to turn my back on the farming sector in its hour of need'
Minette Batters explains why she's taken a job at Defra, and bemoans the closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive.
By Minette Batters Published
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Why it’s imperative that schoolchildren have access to art and design classes
The UK’s creative industries are worth £124.6 billion, but suitable classes are being stripped from the curriculum. Tristram Hunt, director of the V&A, outlines what the Museum is planning to do about it.
By Tristram Hunt Published
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The true story of St Valentine, his legend and legacy of love
Whatever the truth of the real St Valentine, the middle of February has been a favourite time for lovers since records began. We take a look at the curious history of St Valentine, and how an ancient martyr came to be remembered as a champion of romantic love.
By Country Life Last updated
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The dance more complex than the most elaborate mating ritual: Or, how to buy a new car
Jason Goodwin travels to East London to negotiate a good price on a Big Diesel Estate.
By Jason Goodwin Published
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Opinion: The countryside is too loud
Pollution as a result of engine noise is just as anti-social as other forms. Who knows what damage it is doing to wildlife.
By Country Life Published