Freya Parr
Deputy Editor of the National Trust Magazine and freelance journalist
Freya Parr is the Deputy Editor of the National Trust Magazine and a freelance journalist working across multiple titles including BBC Countryfile and BBC Wildlife. She is the former Digital Editor & Staff Writer at BBC Music Magazine, where she has stayed on as a regular critic. She is a keen trail runner, surfer and outdoor swimmer, enjoying scrambling up mountains and reviewing kit for titles such as Trail Magazine.
Recent articles by Freya Parr
Birdwatching can slow the brain’s ageing process, new research shows
Seasoned birders are found to have denser brain tissue, according to a new study
Worm Moon: How and when to see this week's lunar spectacular – and why it determines the date of Easter
Everything you need to know about the Worm Moon, when it takes place this year and what the spiritual meaning is behind it
Think before you reply: This is the hidden carbon cost of every email you send
The unexpected environmental impact of our online lives is bigger than we think. Every email relies on energy-hungry data centres — and the carbon cost adds up fast
Why today’s car headlights feel brighter than ever (and what’s about to change)
Dazzling LED headlights are leaving drivers blinded and anxious on dark roads. So why are modern car lights so bright — and what’s being done about it?
Why does the UK have so many potholes? Pothole causes, repairs, and how to make a claim
In our fluctuating climate, potholes are very common on UK roads. But they can cause havoc to vehicles, leaving drivers with costly repairs. We explain how to report them, fix them and claim compensation.
Think you’re Gaelic at heart? Here’s how to trace your Scottish and Irish roots
From clan lands to famine ships, uncover the stories that shaped your Scottish and Irish ancestry –and learn how to start tracing your Gaelic roots today
Is this the world’s most haunted chair? The chilling legend of the Dead Man’s Seat
Said to have been cursed by a condemned murderer in 1702, the Dead Man’s Chair has inspired centuries of eerie tales, but how much truth lies behind the legend?
Princess Diana’s family tree spans royal scandals, Hollywood royalty – and a surprising number of American presidents. Here's how
Long before she became the Princess of Wales, Diana Spencer’s ancestry linked her not only to British nobility and royal scandals but also to American presidents and Hollywood icons
Farmhouses, ex-council houses and country cottages: Step inside the childhood homes of music legends
While some are open to visitors, others are frozen in time – look inside the childhood homes of some of Britain's greatest ever rockstars
Extinct since medieval times, Britain’s biggest bird could be making a comeback
The largest bird to ever live in the UK could be reintroduced to our wetlands
Thought this Winter Olympic sport was Canadian? This is its real origin story – and why its most important element is still made from one tiny Scottish island
Often mistaken for a Canadian creation, curling’s roots are firmly Scottish – and Britain even claimed the sport’s first Olympic gold
The ocean's hidden sounds: How noise pollution is changing the way whales and dolphins live underwater
The ocean is far from silent – and the rising roar of human activity is making life harder for some of the planet’s most intelligent creatures
Wolf moon: How and when to see this week's full moon, the thrilling first event in this year's lunar calendar
Everything you need to know about the Wolf Moon, when it takes place this year and what the spiritual meaning is behind it
How long has the Royal Family been going to Sandringham at Christmas? It turns out, it’s a fairly new tradition…
We tend to picture Sandringham as the Royals’ timeless festive retreat – but the tradition is actually a recent one (and it began for a surprising reason)
The greatest folk songs ever written? Discover 14 beautiful melodies that still give us goosebumps
From Scotland's lochs and Japan's cherry blossoms to sea shanties and ballads passed down though generation, these are the world's most enduring folk songs
Discover England’s best folk songs: 9 evocative, nostalgic melodies of wanderers, workers and lost lovers
From Yorkshire moorland ballads to Lancashire mill laments, England’s folk songs offer a window into centuries of rural life, love and labour
9 best Scottish folk songs: Beautifully haunting melodies that will transport you to the the land of the brave
Across mountains, lochs and islands, Scottish folk music tells stories that speak to histories of grand battles and small communities and romances
Cold Moon: How and where to see this week's stunning lunar event, the first full moon of winter
Everything you need to know about the Cold Moon, when it takes place this year and what the spiritual meaning is behind it
Why isn’t there a Prince of Scotland when there’s a Prince of Wales? The (surprising) history behind Scotland’s royal titles
The reason Wales has a prince but Scotland doesn’t has nothing to do with modern politics – and everything to do with conquest, kingdoms and a royal union that reshaped Britain
Why Beatrice and Eugenie are still princesses – and what Andrew’s royal demotion means for Sarah Ferguson’s title
Although Andrew has lost his royal titles, his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie will retain theirs. Here’s why
Why is Camilla Queen when the late Queen's husband Prince Philip wasn’t King? The peculiar rules behind royal consort titles
Why are male and female spouses of monarchs treated differently in the British Royal Family?
Is this the worst, most monstrous fly tipping episode ever? Huge, 150-metre long, 6-metre high, illegal waste pile discovered within yards of picturesque river
A 150-metre-long mountain of rubbish, believed to be linked to organised crime, has appeared on land metres from a tributary of the River Thames
11 best Irish TV series to watch and stream right now, from gritty dramas to razor-sharp, hilarious comedies
Ireland’s screen boom has delivered everything from gripping Troubles-era dramas to sharp-tongued comedies and glossy modern thrillers
15 facts about Catherine, Princess of Wales
From cocker spaniels and gardens to bedtime stories and a rose in her name, here are some unexpected facts about Kate Middleton
