Join editor of The Simple Things magazine Lisa Sykes and wellbeing editor Rebecca Frank as they appreciate summer foods and sensory walks, explore the medicinal benefits of garden herbs and rediscover the pleasure of handwriting a letter.

If you are in the UK, you can try an immediate start subscription to the The Simple Things and receive the current issue straight away. Or buy current and back issues here

Thanks to our sponsor Titanic Belfast. Find out more and how to visit at titanicbelfast.com and on Instagram @titanicbelfast

Editing and music by Arthur Cosslett

In the May issue (167) available to buy here

Berry Shrub and other recipes from Michelle Tansley’s cottage garden in our new series, A Good Life

Switching on the senses – discover the moodboosting benefits of sensory walks

Bloom scrolling – self edit your feeds for a more fulfilling online experience

In the June issue (168) available to buy from 29 May here

Weekend project – make your own herbal bug spray and natural after sun balm

Cake in the house - Elderflower and strawberry tart

Read our favourite entries from our midsummer microfiction competition.

Find out more about National Flash Fiction Day on 13 June nationalflashfictionday.co.uk

On the blog

Spring beans on toast – broad beans and ricotta with elderflower dressing recipe

Pea cheesecake recipe

Rhubarb and sweet cicely shrub with Aperol recipe

Natural first aid for bee, wasp and jelly fish stings taken from The Natural First Aid Handbook by Brigitte Mars (Storey Publishing)

Elderflower toner

Chickweed Ice cube aftersun

Letters that changed the world

To read

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (Penguin Books)

From previous issues available to buy here

The joy of writing a letter April (167)

Join editor of The Simple Things magazine Lisa Sykes and regular contributor and author of The Slow Traveller Jo Tinsley as they explore ways of tending to your patch and your flock, whether that’s pottering in the garden, looking after your local bees or exploring your local neighbourhood.

If you are in the UK, you can try an immediate start subscription to the The Simple Things and receive the current issue straight away. Or buy current and back issues here

Thanks to our sponsor Titanic Belfast. Find out more and how to visit at titanicbelfast.com and on Instagram @titanicbelfast

Editing and music by Arthur Cosslett

In the May issue (167) available to buy here

A good life: On the edge of the Derbyshire Dales, Michelle Tansley grows food and flowers in her cottage garden.

Pottering about: Clever ways to give old plant pots new purpose in the garden

My Neighbourhood Frome

Leave it and reap: Plant once and harvest for years: perennial vegetables are an easy addition to a plot

Churchyard rewilding

Coming up in the June issue – on sale from 29 May or try an immediate start subscription to get it earlier

Simple ideas, using recycled materials, to help your garden grow and bloom. Taken from Way to Grow: Over 100 hacks for green-fingered greatness by Simon Akeroyd (DK)

From back issues available to buy here

Know a thing or two: bees (Flourish Volume 3)

DIY beeswax wraps (issue 96)

Gathering: For a Sunday lunch with a difference ask friends to BYOT – bring your own trowel – and share the joy of planting and potting for the new season (issue 141)

On the blog

Garden hacks | Turn a shoe-hanger into a tool rack

Garden hacks | Reuse cooking water on your plants

Garden hacks | Make a colander hanging basket

Garden hacks | DIY seed tapes

Beeswax wraps

Stress-busting Massage Balm

Join editor of The Simple Things magazine Lisa Sykes and wellbeing editor Rebecca Frank as they dive into folk festivals, May Day customs, folklore and dancing. And to mark International Dawn Chorus Day (3 May), there’s an (amateur!) birdsong quiz…

If you are in the UK, you can try an immediate start subscription to the The Simple Things and receive the current issue straight away. Or buy current and back issues here

Thanks to our supporter for this season Titanic Belfast. Find out more and how to visit at titanicbelfast.com and on Instagram @titanicbelfast

Editing and music by Arthur Cosslett

In the April issue (166) available to buy here

Speak easy: how to have better conversations

In the May issue (167) available to buy here

Up with the lark: Have an early picnic while enjoying the birdsong before heading home for a second breakfast. We enjoy using the Merlin Bird ID app to help identify birdsong.

Almanac: Embrace all things folk with the many May festivals from Jack in the Green to Garland Day and Beating the Bounds

Modern Eccentrics – mods

The Brighton Mod Weekender takes place from 27-30 August.

Coming up in the June issue – on sale from 29 May or try an immediate start subscription to get it earlier

Learn all about The Lost Giants of Lostwithiel, Cornwall, the designers and co-creators of giants and beasts of disguise.

From back issues available to buy here

Scene setting: look to the landscape to discover the folk tales they’ve inspired (Issue 151) Photography from the book Unseen Scotland by Bryan Millar Walker (Greenfinch)

Modern Eccentrics: The Circus (Issue 118) Giffordscircus.com

Modern Eccentrics: vintage car lovers (Issue 155). Women Drivers’ Social Club: facebook.com/WDSC

Fairground attraction: Joby Carter of Carter’s Steam Fair on the art of signwriting (Issue 142)