british countryside

Where is Countryfile visiting this week and what time is it on BBC1?
Matt Baker and Margherita Taylor explore the wintry landscapes of Northumberland, the perfect place for a New Year’s reset. They meet volunteers and wildlife enthusiasts in the countryside.

Beloved children's author, artist, scientist, sheep farmer – 10 things you didn't know about Beatrix Potter
Our guide to the children's author, writer, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist Beatrix Potter, looking at her life, her works and best places to visit in the Lake District.

Walk in the footsteps of Britain's greatest poets with the spectacular scenery that inspired them
Walk in the footsteps of some of Britain’s greatest poets and discover the landscapes that inspired their famous works – from Wordsworth's Lake District to Hardy's Hampshire.
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The silent architects: How horses have sculpted the British countryside over centuries
The countryside would look very different were it not for horses. Tiffany Francis- Baker reveals some of the surprising ways horses have sculpted our landscapes.

National Parks of the UK: history, wildlife and best walking routes
What is a national park, how many national parks are there in the UK, and where is the nearest one to you? Our guide to the UK's 15 spectacular national parks looks at the history of each, how to visit them, the best walking routes, and local wildlife to spot.

Britain's best picnic spots
Longer evenings mean the start of picnic season – during the day or even after school and work. Here are some of our favourite picnic spots in the UK countryside and coast.

Does a return to ‘normal’ have to mean the loss of our peaceful soundscape?
As all the restrictions of the pandemic fade away, can we retain the peace and quiet that has been so abundant in the countryside over the past 18 months?

Explore Britain's crowd-free countryside
Too many of us head for the obvious tourist hotspots, missing the equally lovely havens nearby. We reveal how you can discover Britain off the beaten track

Sara Maitland: how stone shapes the British countryside
Stone permeates our lives and the National Stone Centre helps us appreciate it

Rural hedgehog numbers fall by half since 2000
The UK's hedgehog population has plummeted, with more than half being lost from the British countryside since 2000, according to a new report.

Opinion: an optimistic vision for the British countryside post Brexit
Rural commentator Rob Yorke explores potential positive outcomes for farming and conservation following Brexit – not least a complete reform of how managed landscapes are subsidised