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.

A celebration of people

THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS

May IN THE COUNTRY • NATURE TRAVEL NEWS VIEWS

Elephant hawk-moth • Meet a star of the moth world

Cow parsley • Blooms transform verges in spring

HIDDEN HISTORIES • The commonplace nettle can offer clues about our past

SHIELDBUGS • Shieldbugs are among the most familiar insects in the Hemiptera order. While many of us may refer to any small invertebrate as a bug, only hemipterans are ‘true’ bugs. What makes an insect a hemipteran? It sucks – truly. Hemipterans have mouthparts that can pierce plants and suck the juices out of them. The almost 2,000 hemipteran species in the UK include aphids, leatherbugs and water bugs, such as pond skaters.

OX-EYE DAISY • From May and all through the months of summer, drifts of this edible perennial wildflower – much loved by pollinators – bring cheer to meadows, verges and woodlands across the country

Vita’s paradise • Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent

John Craven • Live animal exports are banned, but campaigning continues

CHICKEN BOOM ‘THREATENS RIVERS’ • Rivers in seven counties are at risk of becoming ‘dead zones’ as poultry numbers rise, warns the Soil Association

Historic stone thefts surge

Mystery metal monolith found

SCOTTIES IN DECLINE • Scottish terrier births at worryingly low numbers

A YEAR IN THE COUNTRYSIDE • We speak to our former editor Fergus Collins about his very special joint project with Countryfile legend John Craven

Countryfile on TV • What to look out for on Countryfile this month *

A view from the farm Adam Henson • ARE BRITS READY TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN FOOD?

Nicola Chester • Bees are beautiful, and essential for human life. So why don’t we protect them better?

Save 30% and receive a 25L Vango Earth Trail rucksack

Spring in the dales • From peaceful villages nestling below limestone escarpments to mysterious caves, flower-studded meadows and sparkling waterfalls, the Yorkshire Dales National Park offers the perfect three-day spring escape, says Mark Sutcliffe

NOW GO TO THE YORKSHIRE DALES • Where to stay in the national park, by Mark Sutcliffe

Lakeland in Lambing • Farmer and photographer Amy Bateman captures the new life and hard labour of lambing season in Cumbria

The sound of SERENITY • When you are next outdoors, take the time to stop and listen. Scientists say the sounds of nature can reduce stress, restore attention and boost mood. Open your ears and heart to nature’s song and feel the benefits yourself, says Sam Pyrah

A folklorist for the people • In towns and villages around Britain, local people perform strange and ancient folk customs – and for six decades, one man has been documenting them. Doc Rowe gives us a glimpse into his astonishing archive

Tortured poets of the British countryside • In tribute to singer-songwriter Taylor Swift’s new album, Dixe Wills looks at six troubled talents who found solace in Britain’s soaring landscapes

Classic walk Boat-chasing in the Broads • Countryfile director Toby Hough traces the course of Europe’s toughest inland sailing event, the Three Rivers Race, by walking bankside to catch the action on the water

The walk

YOUR PHOTOS • Share your best photographs of the British countryside with us and you could see your image published in print or online.

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