The Quest for the Blue Poppy
The extraordinary Himalayan Blue Poppy is a popular garden plant in Britain. However, for a long time it was almost mythic, and it took several adventurous Britons to bring this plant home to grace our gardens.
Six Things on
The Scotsman who pioneered the hypodermic syringe
Manufactured in billions every year, the hypodermic syringe could arguably be the greatest medical device ever invented - especially in the context of the current global vaccination endeavour. A Scottish physician was a pioneer of this concept.
Rutland - Multum in parvo
The motto of Rutland, England's smallest county, is "multum in parvo", which translates as "much in little".
Strawberry Hill - a bright, white 18th-century Gothic wonder
The “little gothic castle" beside the Thames in West London that was built by Horace Walpole in the second half of the 18th century is generally regarded as having sparked the Gothic revival craze of the late 18th and 19th centuries in Britain, including the first Gothic novel.
Devil's Bridge, Wales
The village of Devil's Bridge, 10 miles inland from Aberystwyth in Wales, is named after a distinctive structure which spans the River Mynach here. Three bridges, stacked one above the other, straddle the ravine, and there are no other bridges built like this in the world.
Robin Goodfellow - mischievous help around the home
Allegedly born during the reign of Richard I, of a fairy father and mortal mother, Robin Goodfellow (sometimes called Puck) is a sprite of the English countryside. He takes the form of a handsome medieval man, and is mischievous but often helpful – especially with domestic chores being keen on promoting cleanliness, and with a strong work ethic!
Six things to delight and entertain you every day.