BBC Countryfile Magazine

Countryfile Magazine inspires you to explore forgotten corners of the great British countryside and provides knowledge of the people and wildlife that inhabit it. We want to tempt you into trying new things, seek out new places and make the most of Britain’s beautiful landscapes.

Walking for wellbeing

THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS

April IN THE COUNTRY • NATURE TRAVEL NEWS VIEWS

Fox cubs • Young foxes will be emerging from their dens this month

Ladybirds • Spring sun awakens this tiny friend

SOOTHING FORESTS • Sit down in a woodland and tune in to the sounds and smells around you

CHICKEN BREEDS FOR NEW KEEPERS • Aside from fresh eggs, there are many benefits to keeping chickens. They are very therapeutic creatures to have around and don’t need much to thrive: clean surroundings, a stress-free environment, fresh feed and water, access to grit and grass, perches, clean bedding and somewhere to dust-bathe. The choices of breeds are varied, but here are a few that are long-established and always welcome new keepers.

WOOD SORREL • Take time to notice the little things as you walk through the woodlands in spring and summer. One of the first to carpet the understorey is white-flowered, lemon-tasting wood sorrel.

Wonder of Wales • Bodnant Gardens, Conwy

John Craven • Seeking the truth about rural racism

MAPS REVEAL HEDGEROW WEALTH • England’s historic hedgerows would wrap around the world 10 times, shows new high-tech aerial technology

New dinosaur found on Skye

John Brown’s amazing escape

SEALS ON CANVAS • Cornish artist pays tribute in an exciting new exhibition

WHY SPRING IS SACRED • Poet Laureate Simon Armitage celebrates the irrepressible exuberance of spring in his new collection of poems Blossomise

Adam Henson • CAN NEW LAW BEAT THE CRIME CRAZE BLIGHTING FARMS?

Nicola Chester • Beacons of hope and action – a tribute to the humble village hall

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SCOTLAND’S GREATEST TRAIL • From the sparkling shores and sylvan islands of Loch Lomond to the soaring peaks and hanging valleys of Glen Coe, Scotland’s most celebrated long-distance trail will take your breath away, writes Dixe Wills

NOW GO THERE • Where to stay and what to see on the West Highland Way, by Dixe Wills

Walk the OLD WAY • Stone circles, Iron Age hillforts and sleepy villages… Mary-Ann Ochota leaves modern life behind to roam the Ridgeway, the ancient trail through southern England’s mysterious chalklands

DAYS OUT ON THE RIDGEWAY • If you want to test the path before committing to the whole route, here are some of my favourite days out on the Ridgeway.

The outdoors is for EVERY BODY • Some plus-size people think the outdoors is not for them. They should think again, urges size-20 Steph Wetherell. With some smart gear choices and support from others, every body can enjoy the benefits of being active in the countryside

TOP 10 BIRD HAVENS • Witness the greatest avian spectacles in the UK this year with our pick of the RSPB’s most remarkable reserves, by James Lowen

6 ISSUES FROM £9.99 • Discover something new this Spring with our fantastic introductory offers across our diverse range of magazines. Enjoy 6 issues from as little as £9.99, conveniently delivered direct to your door.

The path to genius • In the first of our new series on classic country walks, Vivienne Crow scales a Lakeland peak in search of the remote pond that inspired one of Britain’s greatest outdoor writers

The walk

WALKING TROUSERS • A comfortable, durable, weather-resistant pair of walking trousers should be on everyone’s kit list. We put men’s and women’s options to the...