Heart of the County

Reindeer in Stamford

Nick Dean and family enjoy bringing festive joy to the area… with more than a little help from their herd of adorable reindeer! Nick Dean’s Woodbine Reindeer… seen here in EastEnders’ Albert Square! There Are Few Sights more festive, or as jolly as a reindeer. For decades they’ve been inspiring wide-eyed awe as children look upon them as Santa Claus’s magical friends. But for one local family, their appeal goes much further, with Nick & Steph Dean enjoying a great bond with their herd of 22 reindeer on their 14-acre farm near Oundle. “Welfare. Welfare above and before anything else,” says Nick, as he completes the ritual of the morning feed. “When you spend as much time around the animals...

Heart of the County

Oh! Christmas Tree

Get ready for the festive ritual of choosing a fresh, beautifully scented tree to decorate your home… this month we...

Heart of the County

Building Burghley’s greatest challenges

Working alongside Burghley’s cross-country course designer Derek di Grazia, it’s Philip Herbert’s job to construct the obstacles for one of...

Heart of the County

New for 2022: Burghley TV

This year’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials sees the launch of a brand new digital TV service hosted by Vogue...

Heart of the County

Painting Stamford: Nick Grove

Above All Saints’ Street, through an open sash window, and in beautiful natural light, you might spy Stamford Artist Nick...

Heart of the County

Community Gardening with Root & Branch Out

This month, Root & Branch Out is celebrating the first anniversary of its showground-based kitchen garden, Growers Row. A community...

Heart of the County

Sweet Peas at Easton

Last month saw the presentation of a National Gardens Scheme silver trowel to Sir Fred and Lady Cholmeley who celebrate...

Heart of the County

Making Dairy Fairer

The folks at Rutland’s slaughter-free eco-dairy, Ahimsa, believe there’s a better way to produce milk. As we consume 14bn litres...

Heart of the County

Oakham Canal’s Green Corridor

It’s one of Oakham’s overlooked gems, but Stephanie Ross and Paul Dadford are hoping it won’t remain so for much...

Heart of the County

Enjoying Spring at Kilworth House

Aside from great dining, wonderful live performances and beautiful accommodation, there’s one pre-eminent reason to enjoy a visit to Kilworth...

Heart of the County

Digging up the past…

Rutland enjoyed 15 minutes of fame recently as news of an internationally-significant archaeological find hit the headlines. This month we...

Heart of the County

The Prodigy House

So-called prodigy houses were built by courtiers, and those who enjoyed new-found status as nobility. Burghley House is one of...

Heart of the County

Build Your Own Motor Car

Probably the most thoughtful gift I could give the present Mrs Davis this festive season is 400 hours away from...

Heart of the County

Art in Stamford & Rutland

This month we’re proud to celebrate local artists and curators as we present a guide to the area’s best galleries...

Heart of the County

Deerly beloved

Majestic and graceful, but more than a little skittish when startled. This month as rutting season is underway we ask...

Heart of the County

Bienvenue en Angleterre Versailles!

Inspired by the Royal Palaces of Louis XIV, Ralph – latterly 1st Duke – Montagu returned to England, minded to...

Heart of the County

Carving out a niche

Two Rutland farmers have been – quite literally – carving out a niche for themselves since May 2020 by planting...

Heart of the County

Getting Back to Nature

Just before Covid hit, the Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust welcomed its new CEO Tim Graham to his new role....

Heart of the County

20 Years of Hard Work

Few pursuits over the past 20 years have been as noble as Ursula Cholmeley and her team’s cause to restore...

Heart of the County

Pick of the bunch

This month we’re remembering the time that Stamford played a part in Great Britain’s motoring heritage as we remember Pick’s...

Heart of the County

Going Wild in Rutland

There’s a whole world out there, with many once-in-a-lifetime moments waiting to be captured on camera and frozen in time...

Heart of the County

Uppingham Fatstock – Through the Decades

Alas, Covid has claimed another scalp as this year’s Uppingham Christmas Fatstock Show, due to be held on 25th November...