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.
Our majestic lands
THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS
JUNE IN THE COUNTRY • PICTURES › WILDLIFE › PEOPLE & PLACES › COUNTRY KNOW-HOW › FOOD
Peak District birds soaring
Top four… SUMMER ART EXHIBITIONS • Immerse yourself in the works and lives of some of Britain’s most influential rural artists this summer
On the plot • Jobs for the garden with Rekha Mistry
Fabulous gifts for Father’s Day…
Countryfile on TV • BBC One, 5 June
Sensational summer shows • Celebrate the arrival of summer with a classic country show
A taste of June • STRAWBERRY, LEMON CURD, MASCARPONE & PEPPER SANDWICHES
Plant a tree for the Jubilee…
A view from the farm Adam Henson • WHY COUNTY SHOWS ARE A DELIGHT OF SUMMER
Sara Maitland • A new GCSE in natural history will empower the future caretakers of our planet
ROYAL THAMES • From its spring in the Cotswolds, a wild river winds past dreaming spires and palaces to the city and the sea. Ben Lerwill marks Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee by exploring the rich, regal heritage of a great river
NOW GO TO THE ROYAL THAMES • Where to stay, visit, eat and drink, by Ben Lerwill
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AN OAK FOR THE AGES • Since prehistoric times, a giant tree had slumbered in the Fenland soil, until, in 2012, a farmer stumbled across it. Now, skilled craftsmen have transformed the oak into a ‘Table for the Nation’, as a jubilee tribute to the Queen, writes Rosanna Morris
Phantoms of the forest • A powerful, secretive hunter haunts our forests – the goshawk. Film-maker James Aldred has spent hundreds of hours discovering the hidden life of this master of stealth
JOHN CRAVEN • ANGER AT LIFTING OF PESTICIDE BAN
ARE OUR PARKS FAILING NATURE? • Protected landscapes are doing little to halt the decline of wildlife across the UK, according to a recent report. What can be done to reverse the fortunes of nature in these much-heralded havens? Mark Rowe reports on the latest updates
CASE STUDIES
Insect Eden • With 134 miles of paths through drifts of wildflowers abuzz with bees and butterflies, the John Muir Pollinator Way is both a beautiful walking route and a way to help revive Britain’s insect population, reports Sheila Sim
Life, loss and hope • With many of the UK’s plant and animal species threatened with extinction because of human actions, it’s easy to feel downhearted. In his new book, Peter Marren explores our complex role as both predator and protector of the natural world – and reveals that none of us are powerless
SAVED FROM EXTINCTION • Without action, all these species would probably be extinct in the UK
A life in colour • Floral meadows surround the old house at Benton End in Suffolk. Once, though, this was one of England’s most beautiful country gardens, created by plantsman and artist Sir Cedric Morris, whose life was as colourful as his plants. Now there are plans to renew the house and grounds as a vibrant centre for art and gardening, writes Twigs Way
Should the royals rewild their land? • Green campaigners are urging the Royal Family to help Britain restore nature and tackle climate change by rewilding its vast estates – but some locals are sceptical. Richard Baynes finds out why
JUBILEE WALKS • Celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee with a visit to the Royal Family’s favourite...