Country diary: the otter’s trail leads me out of a brown study
Howsham Mill, North Yorkshire: The river, at first sluggish and uninspiring, suddenly looks gold and green, and full of life
Dark crystals: the brutal reality behind a booming wellness craze
The long read: Demand for ‘healing’ crystals is soaring – but many are mined in deadly conditions in one of the world’s poorest countries. And there is little evidence that this billion-dollar industry is cleaning up its act
‘We were burying 10 children a year’: how toilets are saving lives in Madagascar
One village in the country has seen the tragic consequences of poor sanitation. Now it has come together to turn things around
Five ways to reduce plastic in the bathroom
From bamboo toothbrushes to using refill options or your own containers, it’s not hard to change your ways
How to grow your own medicine cabinet
Sore throat? Hungover? Anxious? You could find the cure in your own garden or local park
Country diary: the exquisite joy of a meadow full of flowers
Grindon Moor, Staffordshire: In a damaged world, these vibrant pasturelands remind us to be optimistic
Central London is Britain’s unhealthiest place to live, study finds
Great Torrington in Devon healthiest given factors such as pollution and fast-food access
Air pollution ‘may affect number of eggs ovaries can produce’
Results suggest environmental factors could play a role in female reproductive health
Are crystals the new blood diamonds?
Gwyneth loves them, Adele can’t sing without them and Kim Kardashian uses them to deal with stress. Many of us are lured by their beauty and promise of mystical powers, but are ‘healing’ crystals connecting us to the earth – or harming it? Eva Wiseman reports
Getting back to nature: how forest bathing can make us feel better
The Japanese have known for years that spending mindful time in the woods is beneficial for body and soul. Now western doctors – and royals – agree