Woman's Weekly

The hills and cliffs of Rathlin Island, off the coast of Northern Ireland, have long been a thriving habitat for birdlife. Now, thanks to conservation efforts, four corncrakes have been spotted for the first time since the 70s. These secretive birds

It was a nice surprise to receive the bigger issues of WW with more stories, and they made me feel much more positive during lockdown. Sally Stewart, by email ✣Look out for our next fiction bumper issue, on sale 21 July. I would love to show all t

Both the jacket and trousers are by ME+EM. Pricey but very good quality. I discovered that I have to wear cream boots with the trousers, otherwise I’m visually shortening my legs. If I want to wear colourful footwear, I choose pumps as they show some

Enjoy more strawberry plants next year by pegging down runners into soil with a hairpin or garden wire. It’s time to cut back wisteria to encourage better flowering next spring. Prune long side shoots to around 20cm. Give potted blueberries a rainwa

My late husband took this photo of me reading my Woman’s Weekly, sitting in a polka-dot halter-neck dress and sandals. I still read the magazine every week. ✢ We’d love to see how great you looked in any era up to and including the 1980s. Please send

Since joining the cast of Coronation Street as Toyah Battersby when she was just 17, Georgia Taylor has gone on to build a successful career as one of soap’s most loved actors. Toyah was her first big role, but Georgia, 41, has also starred in Law &

Wimbledon is renowned for the strictest dress code of any tennis tournament, with competitors required to dress almost entirely in white. Andre Agassi famously boycotted the tournament for three years, claiming he had nothing suitable to wear! Anothe

This world-famous tournament has produced the two greatest tennis matches in history, and this year promises more fierce competition; but will we see another great? Serena Williams – the most successful player of all time – is vying for her eighth Wi

✣ Approximately 54,250 balls are used during the Wimbledon fortnight. ✣ Wimbledon has used the same trophies since the 1880s, and winners take home a three-quarter-size replica. ✣ The competition has only been cancelled twice – in World War Two, when

I’ve been buying your magazine for 72 years, since I was 18, and some years ago you published a series of Beatrix Potter’s animals to knit. I’ve made all of them over the years and this is the last one, which is Jeremy Fisher. My great-granddaughter

Pain during or after sex can have several causes, but it’s surprisingly common. An estimated three-quarters of us will experience it at some point in our lives* and it even has its own medical name – dyspareunia. ‘The severity of pain can vary,’ say

ROYAL COMFORT Viewers’ hearts went out to Jana Novotná as she wept into the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent after the 1993 final. The Czech had thrown away a 4-1 final-set lead against Steffi Graf, but went on to lift the trophy herself in 1998. MU

WHERE I’VE BEEN Darts Farm in Topsham. It’s a great place with a big foodie hall that sells exotic goodies and things like pheasant and venison. WHAT I’VE BOUGHT Porch lights for a flat I’m renovating. WHO I’VE MET A friend called Katie. We met in

The last thing we want to feel on a balmy day is caked in heavy layers of make-up – which, by the way, are more likely to slip and slide in the heat. A delicate touch using efficient formulations won’t just get you out the door in 10 minutes flat, bu

Bees are an essential part of our ecosystem – without them, it would cost UK farmers £1.8 billion a year to pollinate our crops. But since the 1900s, the UK has lost 13 species of bee, with a further 35 in danger of extinction. Here’s how you can hel

Every single morning, without fail, beekeeper Kt Brewster, 41, starts her day by checking on her hives. Kt, from Horning, Norfolk, has two hives, each containing around 40,000 mainly female honeybees. ‘I call my bees “my girls” and visit them every

White crabmeat is not as strongly flavoured as brown and is just right for this dish, delicate and delicious combined with lemon, chilli and garlic. SERVES 4 ✣400g (14oz) squid ink or egg tagliarini, or a mixture, as pictured✣4tbsp olive oil✣3 gar

With your garden in full bloom, take advantage of the abundance of greenery and bring some of the outside in, with these pretty preserving techniques. Keep flowers fresh with an indoor planter, or dry out your petals to keep their colour and fragranc

Drinking wine could be good for your eyes, according to recent research by Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London’s Institute of Ophthalmology, but only if it’s within the recommended limits of no more than 14 units a week. The antioxi

Best Before exercise. To Help build motivation, rousing you into action. Actually getting out there to exercise is one of the biggest hurdles we face. Best During exercise. To Inspire and keep you going. Synchronise the tempo to help your heart ra

A survey of 2,000 pregnant women found 6% defined themselves as vegetarian. Although their babies were more likely to be born small for gestational age, there was no accompanying increase in postnatal morbidity. A balanced vegetarian diet was not adv

Kidney cancer usually affects adults in their 60s or 70s. There are several types, the most common being renal cell carcinoma. The exact cause is unknown, but risk factors include obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, a family history of kidney canc

Months of slouching on the sofa, eating biscuits, have taken their toll on more than our waistlines. ‘Where we get our fuel can make or break our energy levels,’ warns nutritionist Judy Watson (judywatsonnutritionist.co.uk) ‘and too much sugar drains

1 When making the dinner, pop some music on and dance as you cook. ‘Dancing requires zero equipment, and yet has many benefits,’ says Stannah’s occupational health advisor, Helen Stirrup. ‘It helps improve balance and also keeps your brain sharp.’

And prioritise sleep, advises nutritionist Emily Rollason. Poor sleep is linked to a higher susceptibility to illness. ‘To help aid relaxation in the evenings, I’d recommend switching your evening coffee or tea for a decaffeinated option.’ ‘Research

There’s plenty of evidence to show that too much time spent cooped up indoors negatively affects wellbeing. Worryingly, everything from osteoarthritis and obesity to dementia and anxiety can be blamed on a sedentary lifestyle. The good news is that h

Walking is a powerful medicine. If you remain active, you are less likely to suffer from strokes, heart problems, diabetes, dementia or even cancer. A walk strengthens bones, lowers blood pressure, improves our thinking and makes us feel better. Som

Even urban-dwellers can seek out green zones in a town or city. Cycling on different terrains is a great way to boost fitness levels. One study revealed people with a pooch are likely to walk for longer than non-dog owners. Enjoy yoga, lifting

Head into summer feeling lighter, brighter and more confident with this flexible eating plan from Slimming World – the UK and Ireland’s leading weight-loss organisation. The dishes are delicious and filling. ✣ Choose one breakfast, one lunch and on

An astonishing 30% of adults and 40% of children in the UK will have their summer blighted by hay fever – and the future’s not looking any brighter. In fact, allergy researchers have predicted that – due to climate change and pollution – the number o

Q HOW DO YOU TELL WHEN SOMETHING IS A PROBLEM AND NOT JUST PART OF GETTING OLDER? A Generally, you shouldn’t just accept any acute or prolonged symptom as part of growing older without discussing it with your doctor. Things do inevitably change as w

WHY Less self-help, more user guide, this book from celebrated author Bill Bryson, best known for his travel writing, is a brilliantly written and fascinating fact-filled guided tour of our bodies. We all have one, but few of us know how our body act

On a sunny summer’s day there can surely be nothing more glorious than swimming outdoors, surrounded by blue sky and birdsong. In England alone, at least 7.5 million people regularly take to outdoor pools and open water, says Jon Glenn of Swim Englan

The Swim Secure Large Microfibre Towel, £16 from swimsecure.co.uk, weighs just 200g, packs very small, and is designed to dry you in record time, before drying itself four times faster than a regular beach towel. Choose bright pink or navy blue. Th

Benefits A rich source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds believed to help fight disease and boost blood circulation and your immune system. Growing Oregano vulgare is a hardy perennial, thriving in hot, dry conditions but after a few y

Sashaying up to the side of the pool in their fluffy robes, Jessica Walker, 57, and Nicola Foster, 56, beam from ear to ear. Every morning, at 6am, they head to Charlton Lido in London for a swim. You’d be hard-pushed to miss them. Usually, Jessica

It’s 200 years since Britain’s oldest lido – the beautiful Cleveland Pools in Bath – first opened to swimmers. At the time there was increasing awareness that swimming was good for you, but rivers and lakes were either not accessible or becoming too

Staying healthy and protecting others has been everyone’s priority during the pandemic, but missing out on holidays has been hard. After all, they’re something we look forward to and are a way to rest and recharge. So now more of us are getting the c

Great for everything from Pilates to running, these leggings have a high waist and sculpting effect for a flattering fit, and are ultra stretchy for easy movement. The cropped top is a breathable, lightweight fabric. Bend, stretch and flex with con

Keep a handy basket under your desk to fill with all your fabric scraps and craft cuttings as you go. Next time you start a project that uses offcuts, you’ll have them all in one place. Prevent a tangled mess of ribbons and twine forming in your sta

This decadent dessert is perfect for a summer dinner party. 400 cals, 30g fat, 25g sat fat, 45g carbs SERVES 10 ✣6 egg whites✣300g (10oz) caster sugar✣ 1tbsp cornflour✣ 4tbsp freeze-dried raspberries, powdered✣30g (1oz) butter✣75g (2½oz) white ch

Bunions occur when the joint of the big toe develops sideways, causing the toe to tilt towards the other toes on the foot. ‘They appear as bony lumps at the base of the big toe and can be very painful,’ says podiatrist Tony Gavin (osgo.co.uk). Bunion

Solo adventurers can dine out in style on-board Emerald Cruises’ eight-day ‘Sensations of Lyon & Provence’ tour. After setting sail, the mountain ranges, sun-soaked vineyards and Roman ruins will dazzle and delight. Excursions include a guided tour o

No arguments, Mum. You’re coming to stay until you’re better. I’ll pick you up at…’ Paula paused and I imagined her juggling appointments in her head, ‘…around two.’ When I’d called to say I’d hurt my wrist, I knew she’d ask me to stay with her and D

✣Cotton scrap fabrics ✣ Pinking shears ✣ Baking tray ✣ Baking paper ✣ Wax drops ✣ Old paintbrush Note: Look for wax drops that contain beeswax as well as pine resin, and either jojoba oil or coconut oil. Pure beeswax will create a stiff wrap, but t

✣ If there are any creases in your fabric after use, simply sandwich between 2 pieces of baking paper and use an iron on a low setting to iron out the crinkles. ✣ If your wraps lose their stick, don’t throw them away! Simply refresh your wax wraps ev

Difficulty level Approximately 142.5 x 110cm/56 x 43in. 100g (282m) balls of Emu Classic DK (100% acrylic): 3 balls of White, 2 balls each of Lilac, Lemonade, Sugar Pink, Soft Mint and Peachy. A 4mm crochet hook, stitch markers, large pompom maker

Someone had mentioned he’d been invited. He was an old friend of the groom, just as she was, but Lisa had thought he was a no-show. She’d looked around for him before the service and hadn’t seen him in the church. But here he was, as the reception wa

your next order at theknittingnetwork.co.uk To claim your discount, enter code WWS722 at the checkout or call 01795 570303. Terms and conditions: One use per customer. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion. Offer ends 31 Dec

This gorgeously romantic garden, created by rose collector Graham Stuart Thomas in the 1970s, reaches a perfumed crescendo in June. Featuring around 2,000 old-fashioned roses, there are also extensive herbaceous borders, box and lavender hedging, and

THE STORY SO FAR: Sally Douglas, last-minute replacement tour guide for failing Lakes and Mountains Tours, is taking a group of people to Switzerland. She’s been informed by her boss that there is a mystery holiday inspector on the tour. A good repor

“You can sack her,’ said Wendy. ‘You have the authority. Why don’t you sack her?’ ‘Don’t be silly. Of course I can’t sack her. She’s only been here a week. And anyway, what’s she done?’ ‘She’s probably the most irritating woman I’ve ever met.’ ‘You

When buying plants, it pays to get good specimens, so first check: ✣ Are leaves or stems blemished or discoloured? This could signal disease. ✣ Is growth even and well-balanced? A lopsided plant doesn’t look good! ✣ Is it pot-bound? Signs that a plan