Things I’ve seen, done and loved this month

We’re feeling ‘warm-hearted’ in every sense of the word this issue. the heat from the fire on dark nights, the feel of knitted knee-warming throws and the stomach-hugging pleasure of slow-cooked stews fill our pages. Plus, our decorating feature ‘hunker down with cosy folk’ (page 72) shows you how to mix romany-style floral and figurative patterns on crewelwork, block prints and slipware using a palette of seasonal arboretum shades. it is also with great pleasure that we showcase the winners of the 2016 my Country Business Awards in association with notonthehighstreet.com (page 120). our pledge to promote and empower small businesses is at the centre of this annual initiative and this year’s high-calibre success stories prove that entrepreneurship continues to thrive in the British countryside. many thanks to our generous judges and mentors, who pass on their invaluable business experience as part of the prize to the winners.