If you think about bushcraft, you might envisage Ray Mears or Bear Grylls eating bugs in the jungle and wrestling desert snakes. But survival in the wild can be a lot closer to home. While you may not need the skills to endure wading in Arctic waters, Louise Goss finds out that there’s a lot that we can learn from living wild in the local woods

With so much in the garden coming into bloom 3 to 4 weeks later than normal, due to the unusually chilly spring, the great green outdoors is looking incredible right now. Thankfully, June has been lovely and warm, and plants such as peonies, poppies and roses are now out in all their glory; sweet peas are flowering too, with dahlias gaining in stature day by day

Nicholas Rudd-Jones went to catch up with Chef Patron, Adebola Adeshina, at The Chubby Castor near Peterborough

Lumison Lighting is an independent lighting design consultancy run by James and Pippa Morrison from their showroom base in Oakham. Highly sought after to consult on lighting projects throughout the UK and beyond, the couple share their thoughts on lighting trends, outdoor options and planning with Amander Meade

Jane Evans is Vice Chair of The Welland Valley Cavy Club and offers her advice around keeping these adorable, sociable rodents as pets

Lockdown gave us the need to explore locally, and plenty of time to do that in, writes Editor Nicholas Rudd-Jones. This is another in the series of long loops (what we call ‘petals’, as these walks create that shape) from Stamford into the villages. This one is notable for the very fine houses that we pass – Burghley House (big), Walcot Hall (medium) and Ufford Hall (smaller, all Grade I listed and exquisite in their way); other highlights covered en route include Wothorpe, Barnack, the Old Canal and Stamford East Meadows

In May we celebrate British Sandwich Week (17–23 May). Debs Pennell discusses the origins of this staple meal and gets some tips from local chefs and delis on how to create the ‘ultimate’ deli-style sandwich

Local Living stylist Sally Stillingfleet supports local independent retailers with a nod to new spring trends, 2021 style – the only rule is to make it colourful!