Nature
-
Curious Questions: What really happened to the Flying Dutchman?
Tales of phantom ships are as old as time itself, but the story of the Flying Dutchman has haunted sailors for generations.
By Martin Fone Published
-
Six of the most beautiful waterfalls in Britain, from Devon to the Isle of Skye
Surging, foaming, trickling, crashing, cascading or flowing, waterfalls paint the landscape with rainbow-scattered spray and misty plumes. Here, we celebrate these streaks of molten silver, from wild moor to woodland dell, as picked out by our picture editor Lucy Ford.
By Lucy Ford Published
-
Waxwings: The winter visitors which come to Britain so rarely they may never see a human again
Once thought to have presaged the First World War, these exquisite European songbirds are a blessing to our shores, says Mark Cocker.
By Mark Cocker Published
-
A walk around St Albans and its cathedral — a 'welcoming place, and proud of it'
Fiona Reynolds explores the ancient city of St Albans to discover how its cathedral connects with the people and geography of the surrounding area.
By Fiona Reynolds Published
-
'Disconnected from our heritage' — conservation charity warns that more must be done to tackle light pollution
According to CPRE, The Countryside Charity, most of us can't see the stars correctly, and is calling on government to help fight back.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
From the Box to the Yox — how did our rivers get their names?
British river names trip off the tongue like nonsense of Edward Lear, but the meanings behind these great watercourses run deep.
By Vicky Liddell Published
-
What it's like to live and work in a National Park
Cumbrian farmer Douglas Chalmers weighs the pros and cons of living in a national park.
By Douglas Chalmers Published
-
'The countryside can pull us together, a connecting point for a nation that sometimes feels as though it is falling apart'
After 75 years, the job required of national parks has changed. They now need to be hothouses of Nature recovery, and it’s time we got on with it, says Julian Glover.
By Julian Glover Published
-
Organic farmed salmon is a 'misnomer' and certification should stop, claim fish conservation charities
In an open letter to the Soil Association, WildFish and more than 30 other organisations have questioned the organic certification schemes for farmed salmon in Scotland.
By James Fisher Published
-
83% of England's rivers show 'high pollution' levels as sewage and agricultural waste flow into the waterways
Data collected by more than 640 anglers across the country have found that our rivers are in a perilous state.
By James Fisher Published
-
Far better than its bite — what's really going on in the secret world of tree bark
A vital source of food, a pharmacy and a haven for wildlife, a tree's living skin is a surprisingly sophisticated surface.
By John Lewis-Stempel Published
-
The vegan farce that is 'bee-free' honey will spell disaster for bees, farmers and all of us
Our columnist Agromenes ridicules the notion the bee-free honey is a kindness to bees.
By Country Life Published
-
Curious Questions: Why does the weather keep getting colder even when the days start getting longer?
The coldest months of the year in Britain are always January and February — despite the fact that we're getting more sunshine and daylight than we do during December. Martin Fone investigates why the weather gets colder even though the days are getting longer.
By Martin Fone Published
-
The weather lore of January that claims to predict the future
Predicting the weather using folklore is not as lackadaisical as it might seem, says Lia Leendertz, as she reveals what we can look forward to this month.
By Lia Leendertz Published
-
On the night watch: The lives of Britain's nocturnal creatures
As the diurnal delights of the animal kingdom slip into a deep slumber, John Lewis-Stempel explores the velvety black shadows where the wild things are.
By John Lewis-Stempel Published
-
10 truly breathtaking images from Country Life to celebrate the landscapes and seasons of Britain
Take a look at some of the great depictions of the seasons and landscapes of Britain, as celebrated in the new book 'Country Life: 125 Years of Countryside Living in Great Britain'.
By John Goodall Published
-
The Wisdom of Sheep, by Rosamund Young: An exclusive extract for Country Life
Rosamund Young, best-selling author of 'The Secret Life of Cows', has a new book out book called 'The Wisdom of Sheep & Other Animals'. We have an exclusive extract for Country Life readers.
By Rosamund Young Published