Wildlife watching: ‘The best form of meditation I can imagine’

Tired of city life, Patrick Barkham returned to his adolescent hobby of butterfly spotting and found the tranquility of woods at dusk brought him both peace and happiness

Guardian readers reveal what makes them happy in work

A survey of 500 readers highlights what makes a happy workplace: being part of a micro-business, feeling influential in decision making and benefiting others

Vertical veg man: worming your way to better compost

Wormeries are a practical option for small properties without gardens – and they will reward you with the best fertiliser around

A carbon fibre e-bike: built for Batman

Karl Mathiesen: It's cool, futuristic and packs in serious gadgetry – with a matching price tag, but is it a smart city bike?

Top 10 science and tech books for April: how to cook insects and can humans save the Earth?

From bug recipes to surviving the planet's predicament

Iron Horse: songs of cycling

How an evening bike ride in Richmond Park inspired Mary Erskine to pen odes to cycling and set them to music

Air pollution: how big a problem is it for cyclists?

Peter Walker: It prematurely kills an estimated 30,000 Britons a year, but at least on a bike there are measures you can take to reduce the risks

Move over quinoa, Ethiopia’s teff poised to be next big super grain

Rich in calcium, iron and protein, gluten-free teff offers Ethiopia the promise of new and lucrative markets in the west. Claire Provost and Elissa Jobson investigate

Relax, it’s no longer weird to be a vegan

Harriet Walker: Once the preserve of sandal-and-socks wearing Guardianistas, a meat and dairy-free diet is now the healthy, ethical (and fashionable) option