LandLove Magazine March 2017 Vorige editie

March is always an exciting month. It heralds the start of spring, with our hedgerows and gardens dotted with colour from the first tentative blooms. In this issue we take a look at those much-loved spring flowers – daffodils, from which varieties to grow, to how to display them in your home (p.26). While over on page 94 we discover how our landscape changes from dull grey to glorious green as we transition from winter into spring. Even our craft projects this month are inspired by spring blooms (p.78). I especially love the delicate paper snowdrops. We’ve also got some delicious recipes this issue which really showcase the best of the new season’s produce (p.48), as well as some naughty (but nice) cheesecake recipes (p.56). And while we’re on the subject of naughtiness, on page 60 we go behind the scenes of the oldest gin-making company in Britain which is still family-run and producing delicious tipples. If you enjoy eating seasonal produce, make sure you turn to page 69 to read the second instalment of our smallholding series. This month we look at how to plan and plant your fruit and veg plot. It’s not just our gardens and veg plots that are showing signs of stirring at this time of year, much of our wildlife is up and about once more after being tucked away somewhere warm over winter. On page 76 we discover how some of our favourite creatures cope with spring showers, while on page 84 we discover what our heron population is getting up to right now. And, if you want to encourage more wildlife into your garden this year, then take a look at our guide to creating more habitats for them on page 106. Someone who loves nature as much as we do is conservationist and countryman Eddie Hallam. Read his fascinating journey to becoming a wildlife sculptor on page 100. I do hope you enjoy this issue and here’s to sunny spring days ahead!