LandLove Magazine April 2017 Back Issue

Call me old-fashioned, but I don’t think anything beats the sense of anticipation that you get in April. The days and longer and warmer, Mother Nature is donning her new mantle and our fields are peppered with frolicking lambs. And moreover, we’ve got Easter to celebrate this month too! In this issue we’ve not only got some beautiful craft projects to decorate your home for Easter (p.82), but we’ve also got some inspiring suggestions for a celebratory feast to enjoy with family and friends (p.44). If you’ve ever wondered where some of our Easter traditions come from, turn to page 108 to discover the symbolism behind hot cross buns, Simnel cake and more. For many of us chocolate goes hand in hand with Easter, so on page 58 we visit a traditional British chocolatier to discover the magic and alchemy that takes place to create our favourite sweet treats. We’ve also got some scrumptious chocolate recipes for you to try on page 52. If you’ve got children, or grandchildren, we know how tricky it can be to keep them occupied over the school holidays. So turn to page 98 to find some fun activities to keep them busy on rainy days. While, on page 94, you’ll discover our favourite tell-tale signs that spring has sprung. Why not see how many you can spot next time you’re out on a country walk? Our wildlife is becoming more active now the days are warmer. After a snoozy winter, our bees are busily back at work pollinating our plants to ensure an abundant harvest later in the year. Find out more about their vital work on page 76. We also take a closer look at kingfishers to learn more about these beautiful birds, so often only seen fleetingly as a flash of brilliant blue darting across a river (p.88). Finally, discover how you can get involved and help some of our most endangered British wildlife on page 112. They really need your help right now. I hope you have a wonderful Easter, see you next month!