Deprived of gossip during lockdown, I’ve turned to advice columns instead
There’s surprising solace in the wisdom of agony aunts – that life doesn’t always work out as we might hope, says Rachel Connolly
‘A letter tells someone they still matter’: the sudden, surprising return of the pen pal
In the pandemic, many have rediscovered the sheer pleasure of writing to strangers, with new schemes spreading hope and connection around the world
Runners in England plan 330-mile relay to mark launch of parkrun book
Eileen Jones, author of how parkrun changed our lives, will begin ‘bookrun’ in Lake District on Friday
More than half of snacks marketed as healthy are high in fat, salt or sugar
Action on Salt assessed 119 snacks including lentil curls and chickpea chips, finding some to be saltier than seawater
Is that a unicorn? No, it’s a teenager taking a hike in the great outdoors…
The Ramblers charity, long known for its older demographic, is now recruiting the Insta-generation
New heights: the minority ethnic hiking clubs opening up rural Britain
From sourcing kit to building confidence, several initiatives are tackling ‘no-go zone’ of British countryside
I’m not ashamed medication got me through the pandemic – but we need talking therapies too
Prescription drugs helped my fraying mental health, but a lack of psychological support can undermine the good work they do, writes Jenny Stevens
We’ve been hibernating with our sorrow, but nature won’t let us grieve forever
Green shoots and spring buds tell us that life goes on, says Guardian columnist Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett
For those who want children, Covid has intensified the ‘panic years’
The pandemic has put everyone’s life out of sync but for some in their 30s, the turmoil has added complications, says Nell Frizzell, author of The Panic Years
Country diary: hammering hail and a rare sight of crystalline beauty
Comins Coch, Ceredigion: A single speck, no larger than an apple pip, settled on my sleeve – showing against the dark fabric as a tiny, perfect hexagon