Warm weather essentials: 42 ways to make the most of the sunshine | Life and style

We know better than to take good weather for granted, especially with a weekend approaching. So with the forecast set to fair, it’s time to get outside (before it inevitably starts raining again). The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Whether you’re planning … Read more

The best garden furniture for every occasion: 37 expert picks for summer | Gardens

Whether you’re enjoying afternoons lounging in the garden, a lively barbecue on the patio or a sundowner on the balcony, the right outdoor furniture can transform an outdoor space completely. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. No matter how beautifully your garden … Read more

Australia’s best new sustainable homes of 2025 – in pictures | Life and style

A pre-fab cabin and a beach house designed for a growing family are among the properties shortlisted in the sustainability category of the Houses awards, Australia’s premier residential design prize. This year’s seven-panel jury noted ‘the radical idea of doing less’, with low-impact renovations that prove you don’t need to demolish to make something remarkable

‘Two days later, a bouquet arrived’: when companies take you by surprise | Life and style

When we shared your stories about times that companies went the extra mile to fix, repair or even replace something you bought, we weren’t expecting another deluge of emails. But that’s what happened. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. You wrote to … Read more

Simon Armitage: ‘Our pace of life is unhelpful to nature, it’s burning it up’ | Simon Armitage

His new poems celebrate the extraordinary homes of the creatures tucked away, usually out of sight, within the verdant nooks and crannies of the Lost Gardens of Heligan. But during a stroll with the Guardian around the sub-tropical garden on the south coast of Cornwall, the poet laureate, Simon Armitage, explained how the pieces could … Read more