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.

Remembering D-Day

THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS

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Summer meadows • Find gold in them thar hills…

Out of the blue • Hundreds of strange creatures wash up on Guernsey’s shores

Lost lakeland • Discover the vast blue waters of Fermanagh’s Lower Lough Erne

Miniature muntjac • This tiny, fleet-footed deer is an expert escape artist – will you be able to catch a glimpse?

Stag beetle show • This monster insect emerges now

THE JOY OF GERMINATING SEEDS

HUNT FOR HEAVENLY HONEYSUCKLE • A paradise for wildlife, this native climber’s ambrosial flowers and heady sweet scent grace woodlands and hedgerows in the summer months – but it has poisonous relatives, so pick wisely

SEVEN OF BRITAIN’S RAREST ANIMALS • These wonderful creatures are few in number and hard to find, which makes spotting one in the wild even more thrilling. Here are seven animals of conservation concern

Best rose gardens • Roses retain their timeless allure as one of the quintessential blooms of the English garden tradition. And this summer, we’re falling in love with roses anew. Immerse yourself in the beauty of these top gardens, where roses reign supreme.

A SUPERMARKET IN YOUR GARDEN • Social-media sensation Joe Clark has made it his mission to demystify the world of growing your own food. We talk about his gardening inspiration

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

John Craven Do wind turbines threaten the survival of red kites?

BRONZE AGE BONANZA • The largest hoard of Bronze Age artefacts has been unearthed at ‘Britain’s Pompeii’

GROUSE REGULATIONS FOR RAPTORS • The Scottish Parliament has passed a new law requiring all grouse-shooting estates to be licensed, in a bid to stop raptor persecution and protect rare peatland habitat. Simon Birch investigates

GIANT FOSSIL FOUND IN SOMERSET • Two-metre jawbone belonged to a reptile ‘the size of a blue whale’

Adam Henson • Farmers in saunas – a radical new route to better mental health

Nicola Chester • Does the new folklore trend reveal a forgotten yearning for nature?

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A natural beauty • With green pastures, castles and stunning golden beaches, south Wales’ Gower Peninsula was a shoe-in for the UK’s first AONB. Ben Lerwill walks its wild and gorgeous shores

PRESERVING NATURAL BEAUTY

NOW GO THERE • Where to stay, explore, eat and drink in Gower by Ben Lerwill

Amazing animal rescues • Bulls, bears, dogs, cats and more – all saved by the work of the RSPCA. As the world’s oldest animal-welfare organisation marks its 200th anniversary, James Fair charts the history of its greatest feats

RSPCA FACT BOX

Art of the wild isles • The shores of the Western Isles inspire Alice Macmillan’s vibrant prints of birds, plants and sea life

ARTISTS OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES • Three other artists inspired by the nature and landscape of the Outer Hebrides:

TIPS FOR BEGINNERS: HOW TO MAKE PRINTS

TOP 10 D-DAY SITES • 80 years ago this month, the Allies launched Operation Overland from UK shores. Julian Humphrys reveals the best D-Day sites to visit

Seduced by orchids • Magical, weird, alluring – wander in the sensual world of the British orchid with Simon Barnes

Anatomy of an orchid

Six stars of the orchid world

Classic walk The great British dog walk • What makes the perfect dog...