READ .. MAKE. July SEE ... DO...

Here are a few suggestions for things to read, do, make and see this month. Pick and choose the ones you want, do all of them or just enjoy reading and do none of them!

This is a little space in which you can spend ten minutes drawing a flower from your garden or one from your house. Or draw something else if you like. We don’t mind a bit.

❍ One Day by David Nicholls. Following the lives of two protagonists on St Swithin’s day, every day for 20 years. ❍ The Girls by Emma Cline. It’s the start of summer 1969, and 14-year-old Evie falls in with a new group of girls. If you enjoy dark tales of cults and the like, this’ll have you hooked. More things I want to read this month...

❍ Owls! Along edges of fields, on open farmland and even in villages and suburban gardens, you can spot owls at this time of year. Contact local wildlife groups for help with which you might spot and where.

❍ Meteors. The Delta Aquariids Meteor shower is due to peak at the end of the month with around 20 meteors an hour to be seen on the night of 29/30 July. Cosmic! Other things I want to see this month... ❍ Natural bug spray (see page 102) to see off any unwanted barbecue guests.

❍ DIY espadrilles (see page 39) and be ready to skip across the lawn in a summery way. More things I want to make this month...

❍ Shell peas. If you haven’t grown any this year, buy some in their shells for the pure pleasure of popping pods and scooping the little peas out into a bowl.

Veg prep at its most mindful.

❍ Water your garden at night. It reduces the water needed by 50% and, more importantly, offers the opportunity to stand and enjoy the peace of late evening, watering can in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. Other things I want to do this month...