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.

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THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS

DECEMBER IN THE COUNTRY • PICTURES › WILDLIFE › PEOPLE & PLACES › COUNTRY KNOW-HOW › FOOD

SIX THRUSHES OF BRITAIN • Five of our six thrushes can be seen in the winter months. How many can you spot?

On the plot • Jobs for the garden with Rekha Mistry

Adam Henson • TAKING STOCK AFTER A YEAR OF CHALLENGES

Sara Maitland • A huge thank you and farewell to our longstanding columnist, by Fergus Collins

COUNTY OF DREAMING SPIRES • Ancient megaliths, snow-dappled hills, snug inns, towering steeples and a vast horse carved in chalk – Oxfordshire in winter offers a landscape of fairytale charm and cheerful festivity, says Ben Lerwill

NOW GO TO OXFORDSHIRE • Where to stay, visit, eat and drink by Ben Lerwill

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Of partridges & pear trees • As that ever-popular Christmas song rings out in village squares and churches across the UK, our partridge population continues its steady decline. Patrick Galbraith finds out why this once-common farmland bird is increasingly rare

JOHN CRAVEN • TIKTOK STAR IS THE NEW JOYFUL FACE OF FARMING

THE POLITICS OF THE COUNTRYSIDE • There have been many political upheavals since our two major parties published their 2019 election manifestos, and the environment has not escaped 2022’s turmoil. So what are the current positions of Conservative and Labour on rural issues? asks Mark Rowe

Yuletide treats and festive spirits • Home-baked biscuits and marinated drinks that taste like liquid Christmas. Claire Thomson presents five delectable recipes for edible gifts

Living legends • One of nature’s most elusive creatures, elves are now a rare sight in UK woodlands. John Wright explains the best way to spot these mysterious little beings

Jumper for joy • Beautiful knitted sweaters have long been made on Shetland’s windswept isles, where livelihoods have relied on sheep and the sea. Esther Rutter reveals the origins of this design classic

’Tis the season • Delight the walkers, gardeners, wild swimmers, foragers and outdoor lovers in your life with our selection of thoughtful and heart-warming country presents

THE STRAWBERRY THIEF • The Victorian designer, poet and craftsman William Morris helped shape the look of 19th-century interiors with his beautiful prints taken from the natural world, and his reverence for nature remains a striking call for ecological compassion

FESTIVE MARKETS AND FAIRS • What better way to get in the Christmas spirit than a visit to a twinkling outdoor fair, the sound of carols in the air? Wrap up warm and make a day of it with our pick of merry markets

MISTLETOE MAGIC • Festive fairs and markets celebrate many of our rural traditions. Simon Whaley reveals some of his favourites before puckering up for Tenbury Wells’ charming Mistletoe Festival, where druids, drummers and royalty pay homage

REALM OF THE SNOW QUEEN • Discover a ‘land of snowflakes’ inside 300-year-old Blenheim Palace before exploring the illuminated gardens, where artisan gifts, delicious food and hot drinks await, says Tanya Jackson

DICKENSIAN DELIGHTS • Walk the fells then step back in time to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of a Victorian festive fair in this atmospheric Yorkshire Dales village, invites Chris Gee

WINTERFEST IN THE MOUNTAINS • After the epic views of this Snowdonia...