BBC Countryfile Magazine

Countryfile Magazine inspires you to explore forgotten corners of the great British countryside and provides knowledge of the people and wildlife that inhabit it. We want to tempt you into trying new things, seek out new places and make the most of Britain’s beautiful landscapes.

A century of quality

THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS

WILD AND FREE • These 12 spectacular images charmed the judges in this year’s competition and will grace each month of the BBC Countryfile Calendar 2023. Congratulations to the winners. Calendars go on sale 2 October – don’t miss out!

OCTOBER IN THE COUNTRY • PICTURES › WILDLIFE › EOPLE & PLACES › COUNTRY KNOW-HOW › FOOD

Look to the heavens Magical meteor showers

KNOW YOUR OAKS • Autumn is a glorious time to enjoy our woodlands, as greens fade to yellow, red and brown. But one tree conjures a greater sense of majesty and legend than any other. With two native and several ornamental varieties, the oak is found across the UK. Here are six of the most familiar.

This month on the Plodcast • A Taste of the Countryside

BATTLES, BOOKS, BEASTS AND BIG TREES • Don’t miss this month’s exciting events, from Halloween trails to literary festivals

Countryfile on TV • BBC One, 25 September and 2 October

SQUASH, CHESTNUT AND PRETZEL GRATIN

Adam Henson • WARMER WEATHER PROMPTS A GRAPE-GROWING BOOM

Nicola Chester • Stubble fields left unsprayed until spring offer wildlife a protective buffer from hardship

YORKSHIRE’S LOST DALE • Outdoor adventurers throng to Yorkshire Dales National Park, while a neighbouring, equally stunning valley is overlooked by most visitors. Dixe Wills enjoys the tranquil autumn treasures of Nidderdale

NOW GO TO NIDDERDALE • Where to stay, visit, eat and drink by Dixe Wills

Get a Vango Trail Rucksack*

WASTE NOT • Harvesting can be a messy business; every year some 16% of the crop never leaves our farms. In Kent, Jo Caird meets volunteers who have revived the ancient art of gleaning – gathering wholesome but unwanted crops and delivering them to people in need

100 years of BBC rural TV & radio • From wild dramas and rural sitcoms to nature documentaries, the BBC has broadcast from and about the countryside since the corporation’s birth 100 years ago. Dave Golder rummages in the archive to unearth old favourites and lost treasures, including many you can watch online now

MORE MUST-SEES • From long-running classics to forgotten gems, the BBC is rich in rural shows. Here are some more of our favourites from over the years

JOHN CRAVEN • A TRIBUTE TO THE PIONEERS OF RURAL BROADCASTING

BIRD FLU DEVASTATION • A highly pathogenic strain of bird flu has killed thousands of seabirds and waterfowl in the UK this year and decimated colonies at the height of the breeding season. Mark Rowe asks, what are the long-term impacts, and can any lessons be learnt for welfare within the food industry?

Saving Eden • The celebrated landscape gardens at Plumpton Rocks in Yorkshire recently reopened to the public after a major restoration programme. Marilyn Elm reports on the history of this leafy lakeside haven, first laid out more than 250 years ago

OUR COUNTRY! • Sophie Brown loves the countryside and wanted to make it easier for other women of colour to enjoy it, too. So she founded a walking group that gives black women an opportunity to spend time in the great outdoors

Wonders of Wales’ wild frontier • Smitten by the beauty of Wales’ landscape, Julie Brominicks resolved to walk the boundaries of her adopted home, from its spectacular coastline to the ancient route through the rugged Welsh Marches

National Park heroes! • Every year, thousands of people work hard to maintain and conserve our national...