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.

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BBC Countryfile Magazine

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THIS MONTH’S HIGHLIGHTS

February • NATURE l TRAVEL l NEWS l VIEWS

Best mazes in the UK • Looking for a challenge that appeals to the whole family? Getting lost has never been such fun, says Dixe Wills. Here are his magnificent seven planted puzzles

RARE ROMAN KNIFE HANDLE DISCOVERED AT HADRIAN’S WALL • Find in the River Tyne in Northumberland proves ‘celebrity cult’ of gladiators, say experts

‘WITCHES MARKS’ FOUND AT MEDIEVAL MANOR HOUSE • The “staggering” number of carved rituals elevates 15th-century Gainsborough Old Hall to one of Britain’s spookiest buildings

STRATEGIC TREE PLANTING TAKES ROOT • New agroforestry guide helps farmers meet environmental goals

The Plodcast • Tune your ears into our podcast this February

BRITAIN’S ‘ROYAL FISH’ ON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION • Urgent conservation action is required if we’re to save the sturgeon from disappearing from UK waters, say experts

MORE ENDANGERED UK MARINE LIFE

FOLKLORE FOCUS • Ancient Gaelic festival Imbolc celebrates a reconnection with nature, says Pat Kinsella

THE QUEEN OF COUNTRY CRIME • Author of the beloved series starring DI Vera Stanhope, crime writer Ann Cleeves finds her inspiration in the landscapes of the north

Vegan peppermint lip balm • Soothe winter-chapped lips with this irresistible homemade lip balm from sustainable-home expert Jen Chillingsworth

Will a new national trail provide better access to nature?

Pub closures and fewer hops leave UK brewers in a fight for survival

Subscription offer! • Bring the beauty of the British countryside to your doorstep in 2025

DISCOVER The forgotten valley • In the heart of England, find a lost world straight out of storybooks, where castles, medieval manor houses and ancient inns await. Tim Relf takes a wander in the Welland Valley

NOW GO THERE • Tim Relf on where to eat, sleep and visit in the Welland Valley

In troubled waters • A mass die-off of over one million salmon at a Scottish fish farm last year had many questioning the health of the industry. James Fair asks what the future holds for both fish farmers and consumers

PROTECTING PACIFIC SALMON • Canada plans to ban open-net pen salmon farming on its west coast. Is there a case for the UK to follow suit?

CHANGING LABELS • Was the Government’s dropping of ‘Farmed’ labels a smokescreen? Not according to Salmon Scotland

TOP 10 REMOTE PLACES IN THE UK • There’s something aweinspiring about a place that’s remained untamed. Dixe Wills picks his favourite wild sites

Coalition of the willing • Growing a rainforest takes time, ingenuity and passion. Oh, and a bit of dragon skin. Danny Graham meets the people fighting to save Scotland’s rare habitats

SCOTLAND’S RAINFORESTS • Where to visit these precious habitats

MORE TO EXPLORE • Four woodlands to visit across the UK and Ireland

Banish the winter blues • Overcome by annual anxiety, Helen Moat set out on a quest to dispel her low winter mood. Via Lapland, Japan and Britain’s remote and rugged landscapes, she discovers how nature itself has the answers

HIGHER GROUND • A trio of upland locations to...