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.

Mysteries of the past

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

OUR COLUMNISTS

BBC Countryfile Magazine

The first signs of spring • Celebrate the season of renewal with a subscription to BBC Countryfile Magazine

March • NATURE | TRAVEL | NEWS | VIEWS

Famous terrier breeds • Despite their naturally combative nature, terriers make great pets, with most breeds described as affectionate, friendly, loyal or playful – or a mix of them all. James Fair details six key breeds

NEW THEORY ON STONEHENGE’S ORIGINS • Was Stonehenge built to unite early farming communities? A leading archaeologist believes the stone circle was erected to form a political alliance in the face of new threats

NATIONAL TRUST LAUNCHES BOLD NEW STRATEGIES • In a response to the nature crisis, The National Trust announces an ambitious 10-year action plan on its 130th birthday

A WOMAN WHO CONFRONTED THE POWER OF EMPIRE • Learn about the work of 19th-century campaigner and activist Emily Hobhouse at a new immersive attraction in Cornwall

The Plodcast • Tune your ears into our podcast this March

RSPB WARNS AGAINST USING FLAT BIRD FEEDERS • The RSPB is reviewing its bird-feeder products over growing concerns about the spread of disease among garden birds

FINCHES TO SPOT IN YOUR GARDEN

FOLKLORE FOCUS • The ancient customs of the spring equinox usher in a season of renewal says Patrick Kinsella

FROM NEWS TO NATURE • After years on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Martha Kearney goes outdoors for her new celebrity interview series This Natural Life

Pickled wild garlic buds and wild garlic salt • Enjoy the incredible aromatic flavour of wild garlic well beyond the picking season with these simple but high-impact recipes from John Shahabeddin, aka The Grizzly Forager

How to make it

Sniffer dogs and tiny loos – the fight to save water voles gets serious

Smithfield’s closure will be the end of an era, but it still has a future

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ANCIENT CORNWALL • England’s wild far-western shores are scattered with mysterious ancient sites. Melanie O’Shea walks you back through time to the Celtic roots of Cornwall’s ruggedly beautiful West Penwith peninsula

NOW GO THERE • Melanie O’Shea on where to sleep, drink and visit in West Penwith

Vanishing fog • As new findings suggest fog may be disappearing from our world, Fergus Collins meets fog chaser Laura Pashby who treasures its power to transform landscapes – and ourselves

FOG IN POPULAR CULTURE • How authors and artists have utilised fog in their works

FOG, HAAR OR HAAG? • The terminology differences in UK regions explained

TOP 10 BEAUTIFUL WALKING TRAILS • Planning a major hike this year? We reveal the UK’s most beautiful long-distance paths to explore in 2025

Free to feel good • We know time outdoors makes you feel better, but if you have a disability, getting out there isn’t always easy. That’s why charities like the Calvert Trust aim to give everyone the freedom of the countryside

DISABLED-ACCESS ACTIVE HOLIDAYS • Alongside the Calvert Trust’s three centres (calvertlakes.org.uk), here are further options for accessible activity breaks.

Up on the roof • Thatched roofs have been a part of the British countryside for 5,000 years. Tom Allan is one of a dwindling number of craftspeople making...