Maria Hodson
Maria Hodson is production editor at BBC Countryfile Magazine, alongside Margaret Bartlett. Since moving to Bristol in 2014, Maria has made every effort to escape into nature and loves all things wild and watery, from surfing and swimming to paddle-boarding and kayaking. Her adventure highlight in recent years was sea kayaking around remote St Kilda, off the coast north-west Scotland, in 2016. Most weekends, however, are spent exploring the great outdoors with her small child and doing accessible walks. Favourite family adventures are bird-watching at Slimbridge Wetland Centre and exploring the Forest of Dean, as well as an annual pilgrimage to see the starling murmuration on the Somerset Levels.
Recent articles by Maria Hodson
Weather Photographer of the Year 2026 opens to entries
Photographers are encouraged to submit their most spectacular pictures of weather
A human badger, a windy court jester and Isaac Newton – meet the 7 most eccentric Brits of all time
There's a fine line between madness and genius, and these seven maverick individuals truly committed to that line
The 9 weirdest natural phenomena in the UK – from glowing seas to magical pavements – and where to see them
Often viewed as pretty, pastoral and predictable, Britain's landscape also has some downright strange natural oddities
Cotswolds A-List: spot the Hollywood icons, royalty and rock stars among the sheep and stone walls
What do Kate Moss, Jeremy Clarkson and Princess Anne have in common? They all live in the Cotswolds. And they're not alone...
The incredible history of the Titanic's little sister – from ferrying millionaires to their doom to wartime minesweeping and Charlie Chaplin
The SS Nomadic carried film stars, millionaires and Olympians - and ferried some to their doom
From paparazzi to pastures: 9 superstars who ditched Hollywood for country life
These stars prefer a relaxed rural life to the razzledazzle of Tinseltown
This year’s Countryfile Calendar Photographic Competition is underway!
Could your photograph become one of the 12 images to feature in the new Countryfile Calendar?
Killer rats were eradicated on this beautiful British island in 2006. Something remarkable has been happening to the seabird populations ever since
Puffins and Manx shearwaters are thriving since removal of predators
13 fantastical beasts and where to find them – the mythical sea creatures that inspired Rowling and Tolkien (number 11 is terrifying)
Who knew there was so many mythical creatures swimming in UK waters? Meet these 13 strange and supernatural beasts
Shocking new study reveals sheer scale of dolphins, seals and seabirds killed due to fishing each year
First study of bycatch reveals scale of destruction, warning that issue is widespread and underreported
Britain's Chernobyl: the deadly nuclear accident that could have turned the Lake District into a radioactive wasteland
At least 100 people are estimated to have died due to the disaster
The River Wye recognised as living ecosystem in UK first: here's why it matters
The charter recognises the River Wye as a single living entity with distinct rights
Where is Springwatch filmed? A guide to the new series' filming locations
Springwatch returns to our screens for 2026, landing in a brand new location...
Wimbledon as a pig farm? Wembley an evacuation centre? 11 iconic sports venues that transformed during the Second World War
From prisoner-of-war camps to barrage balloon sites, our stadiums and sports grounds militarised during WW2
This popular garden feature can seriously raise the risk of local flooding. And many of us are 'sleepwalking' into disaster
Paved gardens raise the risk of flooding
"Horrific, shocking" rise in fatalities makes farming the most dangerous industry in Britain
33 agricultural workers have been killed in Britain in the last 12 months – an alarming rise on the previous year
Quest to save Britain's most famous apple tree
The original Bramley apple tree is at risk but fans are rallying round to save its life
England’s red squirrels at serious risk of extinction due to North American invader
The beloved red squirrel could disappear from England within a generation, warn campaigners
Stop buying UK cod, scampi and mackerel now, say marine experts
Customers are urged to avoid UK cod and langoustine as populations reach dangerously low levels, Maria Hodson reports
Admire Queen Elizabeth II’s most glorious gowns, including her Coronation dress and the christening outfit worn by 62 royal babies
A new exhibition at Buckingham Palace offers a rare look at the wardrobe of Queen Elizabeth II, showcasing more than 200 outfits that defined her reign and public image
6 best royal period dramas set in the glorious British countryside, which you'll want watch again and again
Celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and the country's kings and queens with these regal films showcasing Britain's majestic estates and landscapes
15 dreamiest, most romantic British rural love stories on screen: Fall in love all over again with these classic British countryside romances
Love is in the air and the landscape in our round-up of the best romantic films set in the British countryside.
Where is Beyond Paradise filmed? A guide to the filming locations of the spin-off detective series
Featuring more elaborate plots, entertaining characters and spectacular settings, BBC One detective series Beyond Paradise is back for its third series. But where is it filmed and which are its best-known locations?
Coleman Battery Guard 600L lantern review
Looking for a traditional camping lantern to illuminate your family trip? The Coleman Battery Guard 600L lantern's got you covered.
