Comment & Opinion

Joe Gibbs: How we found out the hard way that taking Jack Russells to a golden retriever festival is a BIG mistake

Joe Gibbs visits Retrieverfest, one of Britain's finest golden retriever festivals — and rues not taking a golden retriever.

Jason Goodwin: The day our little corner of England changed forever

An archaeological discovery near Jason Goodwin's idyllic spot has sparked excitement far and wide — but not a little dismay nearer to home.

Curious Questions: What is Linnaeus’s Flower Clock?

Martin Fone takes a look at one of the most ingenious uses of plants ever imagined by mankind: Linnaeus’s Flower Clock.

The rat who came to lunch in a fetching shade of Farrow & Ball

Jonathan Self tells the story of a rather friendly rodent who seems happy to ride his luck.

Curious Questions: Who came up with Gentleman’s Relish?

Martin Fone takes a look at one of the all-time great toast toppers: Gentleman's Relish.

Why the great British pub is better than ever

The numbers show that pubs across the country are shutting down — but those that are still thriving are doing so because they're better than ever, says Giles Kime.

John Lewis-Stempel: 'Rewilding is half backwards-looking fantasy, half dystopian vision'

Those who make the case for rewilding ought to be careful — MUCH more careful — what they wish for, says award-winning nature writer John Lewis-Stempel.

Why are there so many magpies?

Magpies seem to be flourishing, so much so that seeing 'one for sorrow' is more often closer to '11 for a football team'. Martin Fone looks at why these hugely intelligent birds are thriving, and considers why they're so often at the centre of our superstitions.

Jason Goodwin in Rome: 'Shelley would have been appalled; Keats would have told them to shut up'

Jason Goodwin heads to the Eternal City and finds a very 21st century mode of transport.

Curious Questions: Who invented the vending machine? (Clue: they've been around for 2,000 years)

Coming across a bizarre statistic prompts Martin Fone to look at the creation of the vending machine, unearthing an incredible tale.

The BBC Proms are the most ambitious, eclectic and successful classical music festival in the world — and we should celebrate them

The Proms are a great British institution and a remarkable success story, says Country Life's cultural commentator Athena.

The eccentric corner of the country that's the only part of the UK successfully invaded in World War II — and how it's become a sought-after place to live

Charlie Baker visits one of the Isle of Wight’s oldest villages and finds a quiet enclave of eccentricity — as well as some remarkable homes up for sale.

Patrick Galbraith: 'The man had a blood blister on his lip, a gold earring and a Jack Russell in a crate in a pushchair. "The wife’s," he said, noticing me looking at the dog'

Anyone who laments a lack of tolerance in the country ought to visit the Appleby Horse Fair, says Patrick Galbraith.

My 40-year odyssey turning a field into a wildflower meadow that's a buzzing, humming, fluttering world

Country Life columnist Agromenes started turning a field from intensive agriculture to wild flowers four decades ago — a decision which has been proven spectacularly worthwhile.

Curious Questions: What is Worcestershire sauce’s secret ingredient?

The world-famous Worcestershire sauce owes a great deal to a product that comes a very, very long way from Worcestershire itself, as Martin Fone discovers.

Carla Carlisle: 'You don’t need a map to tell you that East Anglia and Russia are closer than they look'

'It was like a Tarantino movie where the bad chase the bad,' says our columnist Carla Carlisle as events in Russia consume her attention.

Britain's Victorian seaside towns: A tale of sun, sand, affection, neglect, decay and regeneration

Country Life's cultural commentator Athena looks at the sad plight of Britain's seaside towns, but has hopes that things may be heading in the right direction.

Jonathan Self: After 44 years and seven attempts, I am finally starting to get the hang of this parenting business

Jonathan Self has nailed it, just as his twins leave for university.

What's next for house prices? Loss of momentum, discounts — and it's only just begun

Six months on from Liz Truss's disastrous stint as prime minister, the fallout is still being felt in the property market. Yet the overwhelming sentiment is of cautious optimism as Spring brings all sorts of positive signs, as Annabel Dixon explains.

Jason Goodwin: They've started measuring distances in minutes. But what of loitering and lingering? What of the flowers of the wayside and the hill views?

Jason Goodwin rages against the sign-erecting quangos who are helping tourists miss the point.