Comment & Opinion

The rest is photographs

An afternoon spent going through dusty old albums puts our columnist Jonathan Self in contemplative mood.

No calls after lunch? The Probate Office is in disarray and the new Chancellor needs to sort it out, and fast

Delays in receiving inheritance are making inheritance tax almost impossible to pay, leaving grieving families in limbo, says Agromenes.

'It was Labour that ushered in chemical-driven agriculture: it must be Labour that puts that legacy to rights'

The countryside is supposed to be a mess. It's time to farm alongside nature, rather than against it, says Agromenes.

Patrick Galbraith: 'For a couple of hours, I was part of a rich culture that will soon be lost'

Our columnist travels to Northumberland to 'long net' for sea trout, and laments the slow decline of a heritage craft.

Minette Batters: The quest for the holy triumvirate

'Although exams are important, they are a limited measure of talent and no guarantee of future success': Or, why you shouldn't take your A-Level results too seriously

Throughout history, the character, drive and tenacity of such prodigiously talented 18 year olds as Nelson, Elizabeth I and Brunel have come to define success, rather than exam results alone, contends Alice Loxton.

'Keep thy device clean': Country Life's Tech Commandments

We all use our phones too much. The least we can do is agree on a set of rules for modern etiquette in a digital age.

The Last Word: 'Portmeirion’s charm is rooted in eccentricity and this is why I love the place'

Pamela Goodman travels to north Wales in a rusty Land Rover Defender, where long walks, wild swimming and a visit to the 'eccentric' town of Portmeirion are on the cards.

To Oliver Walston: A visionary, a farmer and a friend

Carla Carlisle writes of her friend Oliver Walston, who was often known for 'thinking the unthinkable and saying the unsayable' in the agricultural world of East Anglia.

Curious Questions: Why do we still love pirate stories, 300 years on from Blackbeard?

Tales of swashbuckling pirates have entertained audiences for years, inspired by real-life British men and women, says Jack Watkins.

'Water was coming in through the roof, the windows and the stone walls. It caused mushrooms to grow in the bedrooms, and sizeable bits of the ceiling to detach themselves without notice'

Water, water everywhere for Jonathan Self — especially in the places where you'd least want to have it.

The 1930s eco-warrior who inspired David Attenborough and The Queen, only to be unmasked as a hoaxer and 'pretendian' — but his message still rings true

Martin Fone tells the astonishing story of Grey Owl, who became a household name in the 1930s with his pioneering calls to action to save the environment — using a false identity to do so.

'We are in the midst of a sewage scandal and the natural world is paying the cost'

Country Life's leader article takes aim at the mess in the water industry.

Jason Goodwin: 'I slung my boots around my neck and squeezed the mud between my toes. Touching the earth with my feet — puddles, grass, leafmould — was curiously liberating'

Our Spectator columnist sheds his shoes and earths himself.

Alan Titchmarsh: The best flower shows in Britain show exactly where RHS Chelsea gets it wrong

The Chelsea Flower Show might be the most famous in the world — but does it offer the best experience for visitors? Alan Titchmarsh suggests a few others where you might have an even better time.

Curious Questions: Why is race walking an Olympic sport?

The history of the Olympics is full of curious events which only come to prominence once every four years. Martin Fone takes a look at one of the oddest: race walking, or pedestrianism.

Patrick Galbraith: 'The Itchen is a place of such pastoral beauty that it’s almost too much to take in'

Patrick realises that often, it's the journey, and not the destination, that is most important.

A 'war on NIMBYs'? How the principle of 'how, not if' will underpin the new homes boom

The new government has pledged to 'turbocharge' the building of new homes and infrastructure. But you might only have a say in 'how, not if' they're built in your neighbourhood. Here's what it could mean for you.

Thanks be to Jeremy? What you need to know about the changes to permitted development rights

As the changes to permitted development rights for agricultural buildings — known as Clarkson’s Clause — start to kick in, Annunciata Elwes assesses their impact

Agromenes: The new government is already delivering with aplomb — and in the countryside, it's all to play for

Our countryside columnist takes a look at the early efforts and impressive ministerial appointments of the new Labour government in Britain.