Fergus Collins
Fergus Collins is the creator and host of the BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast - a weekly adventure in the British countryside. He is also a writer and a former editor of BBC Countryfile Magazine.
Recent articles by Fergus Collins
Beaver Moon 2025: how to see the brightest and largest super moon of the year
Tonight's Beaver Moon is set to be the largest and brightest super moon of 2025
“Dad takes home less than the average living wage and has no pension.” How will Labour’s controversial inheritance tax scheme really impact farmers?
The farming inheritance tax changes have faced some of the biggest protests of all
Labour’s new measures. But is the backlash justified? We crunch the numbers
Britain is one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries – so why did the government close the Sustainable Farming Incentive?
Britain is one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries. So why has Labour closed the Sustainable Farming Incentive, a scheme to reward farmers for protecting the natural environment?
Is Labour’s planning bill a “licence to kill nature”? We look at Labour’s rural policies one year on
In the first of a three part series, Fergus Collins looks at a year of life under Labour
A rat the size of a cat and New York’s ‘rat czar’: The surprising reason behind the surge in these super-breeders
Is it really true that you're never more than 6ft from a rat? While this figure is debatable, rat populations are booming in both cities and rural areas
The best dog treats for training: Tried and tested by Idris the whippet
We test the healthiest and most responsive treats to give your dog to ensure training goes smoothly.
Who owns Britain’s beaches? The answer might surprise you – and it depends on where the tide is
Is it really true that the Royal Family own Britain's beaches? Fergus Collins investigates
Cat v dog: which animal makes the best pet? Do you agree with our expert’s take?
Which animal makes the better pet – a cat or a dog? We weigh up the evidence
Why does the US have a Manchester, Boston and Salisbury? The surprising origins of the English towns and cities that you’ll also find in America
Britain's place names offer clues into local history and landscape – and have been influenced by groups such as the Romans and Normans
“I quit the New York catwalk to create my own regenerative garden paradise – here’s why”
Poppy Okotcha turned her back on the jet-setting lifestyle of a top model for a more down-to-earth way of life. Fergus Collins meets the regenerative gardener and author to find out why
It feels like being “jabbed with a red-hot needle” – here's what to do if an invasive Asian hornet stings you
Sightings of invasive Asian hornets are increasing in the UK – so what should you do if you're stung by one?
“Every English river is dying.” But it’s not too late to save them from destruction – here's how
Robert Macfarlane’s Is a River Alive? is one of the year’s biggest – and most vital – book releases. In this exclusive interview, we discover why he’s campaigning to have rivers recognised as living beings
It has a top speed of 72kph, can leap almost 2 metres high and could win Olympic gold in boxing
Spotting a hare is an incredible wildlife spectacle and early spring is the ideal time to spot them. Learn more about the hare species found in the UK, including the brown hare in our expert guide.
Killer wave of 1607: UK's deadliest flood killed 2,000 in Somerset – could a tsunami hit Britain's coast again?
In 1607, a devastating tsunami swept through the Bristol Channel, killing hundreds of people. But could it happen again?
High-end fashion, carbon-free cows and drought-resistant plants: Is this the future of farming?
From home-grown cloth to natural pest control and new ways of raising cattle, Fergus Collins reports from this year’s Oxford Real Farming Conference on the key ideas that could transform our rural landscapes
Ireland is one of only a few countries on the planet that doesn't have snakes. Here's why...
Legend has it St Patrick really didn't like snakes...
This island is the ‘dinosaur capital’ of the UK – although record-breaking prehistoric giants, heavier than African elephants, were found elsewhere
The UK has had its fair share of ginormous dino digs over the centuries – but what's been the biggest discovery?
Why has there never been a 'king' of Wales?
We have had kings of Scotland and England so why not Wales?
Macbeth, William the Conqueror, Harold II – the famous kings that suffered violent and brutal deaths on the battlefield
Being a king was a dangerous business - especially if they had a thirst for power and glory
Why do so many beautiful and historic buildings have bricked-up windows? It's all thanks to an odd 17th-century law
If you've strolled through cities such as Bath or Edinburgh, you might notice that lots of historic buildings have bricked up windows. Ever wondered why?
How much milk do cows produce?
How much milk does a cow produce each day? As Fergus Collins explains, the breed really does make a difference.
There's a part of England that's actually American – and it's right on the banks of the River Thames
Is this historic part of England actually American? We take a look...
Don’t buy walking boots until you see these 2025 winners - Tried and tested by experts
From rugged trails to rainy hillwalks, we review the best hiking boots from trusted names like Scarpa and Helly Hansen.
"Cutting down the Sycamore Gap tree was an act of spite". Did “resentful cynicism” drive the guilty two or was it for "bragging rights and trophy-hunting”?
The felling of the Sycamore Gap Tree
appalled and saddened millions. Yet, as
Fergus Collins discovers, hope can spring
from the darkest ecological tragedies