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
Are there PFAS in my drinking water?
What was the Sea Empress disaster? The devastating details surrounding one of the worst oil spills in history
Everything you need to know about the disastrous running aground of the Sea Empress oil tanker and the ramifications on marine wildlife and conservation for decades to come.
Can sheep and goats cross-breed?'
Can sheep and goats crossbreed? There’s considerable debate, with evidence and claims on both sides.
The plant once linked to swingers is back, stealing the spotlight – and there’s so much you can do with it
Once burdened by a lingering urban legend, pampas grass is quietly reclaiming its place in gardens and homes
“Carbon emissions from 20 AI systems were greater than those from 137 countries" - the true environmental cost of AI will blow your mind
Here's how much energy your next ChatGPT query will use.
Why is Christmas Day on the 25th December?
When it was first held on that date and why; when Jesus was actually born in terms of year and what month; what places celebrate Christmas in January instead…
Father Christmas or Santa Claus... Just who invented him and how did he become clad in red?
How did Father Christmas evolve? Fergus Collins takes a look
Why this canal caused BBC Countryfile Magazine’s biggest controversy
The title of Britain's longest set of staircase locks was fiercely fought – but we finally have a winner
Almost 5 metres of rain fall here every year. Meet the UK's wettest place
We're a nation obsessed by the weather – and with good reason. But have you ever wondered where the wettest place in the UK is?
“Forget 1066, Agincourt and Waterloo, this is the most important battle in English history”
Hastings, Agincourt and Waterloo are ingrained in our national psyche,
but was a largely forgotten battle in Wiltshire more significant in shaping England and the English? Author Rupert Gavin tells Fergus Collins about King Alfred’s last desperate roll of the dice at Edington
This is why fox hunting has not been completely banned in the UK – yet...
Storm Claudia: why (and how) storms are named
As amber weather warnings are issued across the UK, we look at why storms are named – and how it's done.
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
