For all the overwhelming range offered by the modern supermarket (from Egyptian strawberries in winter to Guatemalan peas in the autumn), there is still something to be said for the joy of growing your own produce on your own plot of land.

This book, co-written by Sam Heughan & Graham McTavish, explores the ancient primitive Pagan past of Scotland, alliances and feuds between the different clans, the beginning of the Scottish Kings, Jacobite rebellions, and the very sobering battle of Culloden; this book is also about the adventures of Heughan and McTavish as they explore the beauty of Scottish highlands, the glory of whisky, Scottish sports, food, culture, the Gaelic language, and the filming of the popular Outlander series based off the books by Diana Gabaldon. This book has me even more excited about going on holiday to Scotland in September! AHDB Potatoes: if you grow three or more land hectares of potatoes you’ll have to register and pay an annual levy. Graeme told us that he chose this because the writing is ‘deft and delicate’ The Wood, by John Lewis-Stempel Greenbelt land is the undeveloped buffer zone between urban spaces and the countryside. Designed to prevent urban sprawl, greenbelts keep the land surrounding urban areas permanently open whilst protecting agriculture and the historical character of towns and cities. Greenbelt development is generally prohibited, so planning permission is hard to come by, though LPAs do allow some exceptions, for example for outdoor sports facilities.This is one of my favourite reads because it’s about rural life, but also so much more. It’s all about the edges, the interfaces, the bits of life, society, geography and… fields… which have their own special quality simply because they’re on the edges. When reading the last chapter "The Journey Ahead" I was also amused when I read the iconic quote from Monty Python's The Meaning of Life which says, "Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations." That film is hilarious. The patriarch of Funnon Farm is Idris Hamer, stubborn, strong, a man of the plough and the prayer-sheet, haunted by his youth in the trenches of France. The son is Oliver, a junior boxing champion and hell-raising local legend who seems from birth inextricably rooted to his corner of Wales. Bridging these two men’s uneasy relationship is Etty, a woman born into a world unequipped to deal with her. Following the Hamer family for seventy years, this novel’s beauty is in its pure and moving prose, and its brilliant insight into a traditional way of life splintering in the face of inevitable change. Addlands is also a tale of blood feuds and momentous revelations, of the great dramas that simmer beneath the surface of the everyday. Through all the upheavals of the twentieth century, the only constant is the living presence of the land itself, a dazzling, harsh, and haunting terrain that Tom Bullough conjures with the skill and grace of a master.

I like a hot Scottish accent as much as the next person & was considering this as a xmas gift for someone so thought I'd give the audiobook a spin. Oh man... these two come off as INSUFFERABLE douchebags. Maybe the smarmy, self-important tone isn't as obvious in print, but I'm currently 2/3 through the audio version and I don't know if I can even finish it. I'm giving it a couple of stars for the historical content (and the accents, which don't disappoint), but oof. Buyer beware. Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other”, by Outlander stars Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish is a combination of Scottish history (including the history of the country itself, the tartans/kilts, its clans and its whisky), with a little bit of comedy mixed in. Narrated completely by the stars themselves, Heughan and McTavish dictate their journey across the Scottish countryside in an attempt at learning about themselves, and the country they call home. I will buy anything related to Outlander and this is a profound book, along the lines of the Ewan McGregor/Charlie Boorman, Billy Connolly or Bill Bryson books. Were it really shined was the narration of events in Scottish history, particularly the Battle of Culloden. It really came alive.Change the plan you will roll onto at any time during your trial by visiting the “Settings & Account” section. What happens at the end of my trial? I have been an Outlander fan for over 20 years and seen Diana Gabaldon speak 3 times so I was excited to read this book by two actors from the series including the handsome Sam Heughan who plays Jamie Fraser. They also made a TV series based on this book that will be on Starz starting in Feb. I think it will be better on TV than in book form. On top of the cost of the land itself, there are a few barriers to entry to starting a smallholding. These can be split into two categories: start-up costs and legal admin.