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 Scottish island idyll

COUNTRY FILE on TV • What to watch on Countryfile this month*

OUR COLUMNISTS

BBC Countryfile Magazine

Garland for a king • Discover our quirkiest spring festivals with a subscription to BBC Countryfile Magazine

May • NATURE | TRAVEL | NEWS | VIEWS

The UK’s most misunderstood creatures • The UK is home to a fascinating array of wildlife, but some species have a negative reputation – whether it’s misunderstandings, old superstitions or just bad PR. Yet each of these species plays a vital role in our environment, writes Jo Wimpenny

BRITISH WILDLIFE TOPS POPULAR SURVEY TO STAR ON NEW BANKNOTES • Native animals will feature on the next run of Bank of England notes, replacing historical figures including Jane Austen and Winston Churchill

SCIENTISTS DISCOVER HEARTBREAKING REASON FOR MASS WHALE STRANDING • Pilot whales that died on a beach on the Isle of Lewis in 2023 were supporting a female giving birth, new research suggests

The Podcast • Tune your ears into our podcast this month*

THE RHYTHMS OF NATURE • In her first book, Cathy Haynes explores how noticing nature’s cues can help you mark the passing of time

Sir David Attenborough’s greatest programmes • As the broadcasting titan celebrates his 100th birthday this month, Kevin Parr digs into the archives to choose his favourite television series from Sir David Attenborough’s unparallelled career

New forest plans offer space for nature alongside development

Meet the farmers fighting to increase diversity in agriculture

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The Peak District • On the Peak District National Park’s 75th birthday, Georgie Duckworth takes her family on a time-travelling adventure deep into the limestone gorges and rolling dales of Derbyshire, with the help of a 1950s guidebook

NOW GO THERE • Georgie Duckworth on where to eat, drink and stay in the Peak District

Wings of desire • The ability to fly evolved in animals several times, while humans have revered and yearned for this evolutionary advantage for millennia. Simon Barnes looks at the how and why of flight

THE HUMAN YEARNING FOR FLIGHT

REMARKABLE MIGRATORY FLIGHTS

TOP 10 SCOTTISH ISLANDS • Some 790 islands stud the seas around Scotland – but which to visit first? Alastair MacDonald Jackson picks his favourites

Power struggle • In an increasingly energy-hungry Britain, is nuclear the best way to meet soaring demand without burning fossil fuels? Fergus Collins investigates the benefits and risks

WILD WORLD • Lucy Shepherd represents the next generation of visionary British explorers. She talks to Mark Bailey about the power of adventure and how to find the wild side of Britain

LUCY’S FAVOURITE PLACES

Back from the brink • Small, frugal and resilient, Britain’s black bee is fighting back. Anna Fielding explores how this native survivor could shape the future of beekeeping in the UK

FIVE BEES TO SPOT • There are around 270 species of bee in Britain. Here are Anna’s favourite five to look out for

History in a glass • In search of a ‘wee dram’, Matt Havercroft heads to the Highlands to discover the secrets of Scotland’s most famous export and the distilleries keeping ancient traditions alive

DISTILLERY DISCOVERY • Five more famous and noteworthy whisky producers in...