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.

Hope springs

THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS

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MAY IN THE COUNTRY • PICTURES › WILDLIFE › PEOPLE & PLACES › COUNTRY KNOW HOW › FOOD

TOP 10 EVENTS AND FESTIVALS • What’s on this spring?

Great Stag Hunt

Wise buys PERFECT PICNIC KIT

GRILLED NEW-POTATO SALAD

NINE COMMON ORCHIDS • Orchid hunting is always a thrill, sometimes with a hint of magic. Their dust-like seeds, carried on the wind, mean that these charismatic wildflowers can appear almost anywhere.

On the plot • Jobs for the garden with Rekha Mistry

A view from the farm Adam Henson • IT’S TIME FOR A TRIM ON OUR SHEEP FARMS

Sara Maitland • Rural communities thrive with permanent residents, not second-home owners

THE STORY OF LAKELAND • Take a magical history tour of the mysterious stone circles, dramatic castles, historic quarries and grand country houses of the Lake District with Susie White

NOW GO TO THE LAKE DISTRICT • Where to stay, visit, eat and drink by Susie White

BBC COUNTRYFILE MAGAZINE • Save when you subscribe To the digital edition

Frost in May • Spring is here at last and in his gorgeous Lincolnshire garden, Adam Frost thrills to every bud that bursts into blossom. The BBC Gardeners’ World presenter tells us how nature and the countryside have inspired his career

A weaver’s life • Sussex maker Annemarie O’Sullivan harvests her own willow withies, from which she weaves beautiful baskets inspired by ancient traditions

JOHN CRAVEN • CONTROVERSIAL DEADLINE TO REGISTER PATHS SCRAPPED

HOW IS FARMING CHANGING? • British farming faces its largest upheaval since the end of the Second World War. Having left the European Union, the UK is using the Agriculture Act 2020 to replace EU subsidies with new schemes to underpin the industry. What will these changes mean to farming, nature and the wider countryside? Mark Rowe reports on the latest updates

Fawn rising • This spring, new roe deer fawns are born in quiet woodlands across the countryside. Adele Brand describes a fawn’s first year of life, and asks why farmers and some naturalists are worried by the growing numbers of deer

Spring into song • Spring’s blend of optimism, fertility and new life has always stirred people into song. Duncan Haskell takes us on a lyrical journey through the melodies of the season

NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL SPRING • Ten songs – old and new – to help you celebrate the new season in the countryside

NEW NATURE WRITER OF THE YEAR 2022 • Are you inspired by spending time in a place where nature flourishes? Then put pen to paper and let your creativity flow in this year’s nature-writing competition

Golden wonders • They are so common we take them for granted. Many gardeners wage war on them. But these wildflowers are marvels of natural design, vigorously well adapted to life in all its forms. Phil Gates celebrates the dandelion

RELATED SPECIES

NATURE ESCAPES • For freshness and vitality, for sheer abundance of life, you can’t beat a May day out in the countryside. Here are 16 ideas to inspire your next wildlife wander

PARADISE PONDS • May delivers a host of delights for wildlife lovers, as Julie Brominicks finds out on a visit to one of the most idyllic aquatic environments in Britain

Spring SAVINGS • Find new passions to fully engage with this Spring. With over 30 magazines to choose from, take advantage of this fantastic introductory offer. Enjoy 6 issues...