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.

Cycle of life

THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS

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JUNE IN THE COUNTRY THE BIG PICTURE

GOOSEBERRY, ELDERFLOWER AND LEMON PANCAKES • Elderflowers and gooseberries are two ingredients we should bring together while they’re both here, and these pancakes do it perfectly. Early summer matrimonies like this are one of the reasons I love to cook.

HOW TO PATCH A TENT • Do you have a small hole or tear in your tent? This simple repair will put your shelter back in action, ready for camping season.

EARLY SUMMER CATERPILLARS • Caterpillars, or larvae, are living growbags with serious ambition. They stuff themselves almost to bursting point, then pupate, turning into a chrysalis within which the adult insect slowly develops through metamorphosis into a butterfly or moth. In this guide, we reveal 12 common UK caterpillars to look out for in the countryside and in your garden this summer.

A view from the farm Adam Henson • COULD GENE-EDITING MEAN THE END OF EXTINCTION?

Nicola Chester • A sense of community and belonging is the real prize to be won from the local village fête

THE WEST KERNOW WAY • Explore Cornwall’s mysterious ancient monuments, wild moorlands and sparkling beaches. Georgie Duckworth rides the rugged tracks and sleepy lanes of Britain’s most exciting new cycling route

NOW CYCLE THE WEST KERNOW WAY • A gear guide, plus where to stay, visit and eat by Georgie Duckworth

Get a Vango 20L rucksack

Dreamy spires of summer • Blazing like summer wildfire along forest rides and waste ground, foxgloves tell a marvellous tale that blends old folklore with modern, life-saving medicine, says Nicola Chester

JOHN CRAVEN • RAMBLERS’ NEW PRESIDENT BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS

BEHIND THE HEADLINES WHY DO WE CULL DEER? • Every year in the UK, hundreds of thousands of deer are killed in order to control population numbers, known as ‘culling’. What are the reasons for these annual culls, how are they carried out and what is the public reaction? BBC Countryfile Magazine investigates

EYE SPY • Damselflies and dragonflies can be very flighty and take off at the slightest disturbance, but if you’re lucky, you may get a good view of one. Megan Shersby takes a close look at these winged jewels of the water – see if you can spot any of these species or behaviours in the wild

Treasure hunt • A brilliant app can help the whole family engage with natural landscapes. Dave Hamilton investigates EarthCaches

A DOG’S LIFE • Photographer and farmer Amy Bateman documents the day-to-day lives of her working border collies in words and pictures

A song for the land • She was a child star with ‘the voice of an angel’ – now Charlotte Church is tapping into the healing power of nature to create a wellbeing retreat for all in the peaceful heartland of Wales

TOP 5 YORKSHIRE VILLAGES • The verdant river valleys and wild heathlands of the Yorkshire Dales are dotted with charming stone-built hamlets. Helen Moat explores five of the best

DO YOU FEEL YOU ARE A PART OF NATURE? • A scientist gives practical tips on how to fix our broken relationship with the natural world

YOUR DAYS OUT… IN PHOTOS • Share your best photos of the British countryside with us and you could see your image published in print or online and win a great prize. Email your images to photos@countryfile.com

Your countryside • HAVE YOUR SAY ON RURAL ISSUES

Blackbird

Country puzzles • RACK YOUR...