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Hen harriers: The 'marvels of evolutionary adaptation' that are 'ballet and theatre and poetry inscribed on air'The hen harrier is one of the most glorious birds of prey in Britain — yet it provokes fierce debate. Mark Cocker unpicks why this breed is among the most controversial of all British birds.
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Arthur Parkinson: When it comes to happy hens and yellow yolks, grass is kingDon't get too focused on the colour of an egg. If you provide your hens with a happy habitat, everything else will take care of itself.
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'I spent 84 years living in the countryside, and have just moved to a city. Here's what I've discovered.'Charles Moseley has lived in a small village in Cambridgeshire for decades, but now he’s made the leap with his wife to the cathedral city of Ely, the subject of his latest book.
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Arthur Parkinson: Ruffled feathers and a bad attitude — my guide on how to deal with broody hens
A chicken's desire to sit on and hatch a clutch of eggs can be the most effortless way to rear your own birds, but for those who are after eggs and not chicks it can be a real issue.
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'We don’t expect to catch monsters in British seas': The return of the bluefin tunaIt’s no longer necessary to venture to tropical waters in order to catch a monster tuna, says Jonathan Young, as he attempts to land a big-game fish in Falmouth Bay.
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Centipedes, honeybees and tall churches: Country Life Quiz of the Day, May 19, 2025Counting legs, measuring spires and more questions about Tom Cruise kick off the quiz of the week
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One puffin, two puffin, three puffin, four: The National Trust’s puffin count gets underway on the Farne IslandsThough the islands' shags and terns are in decline, its puffin population has been growing — and the trust is streaming a live recording of their burrows.
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Urban beekeeping — from the illegal rooftop hives in New York City to Chelsea Flower ShowThe Tuesday of Chelsea (May 20) is World Bee Day; to celebrate The London Honey Company is sponsoring the Show's Bees of Development Balcony Garden.
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Puffins, the world's smelliest fruit and Einstein's socks: Country Life Quiz of the Day, April 30, 2025Wednesday's Quiz of the Day wonders if you know what an 'interrobang' is.
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George Monbiot: 'Farmers need stability and security... Instead, they're contending with chaos'The writer, journalist and campaigner George Monbiot joins the Country Life podcast.
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Arthur Parkinson: ‘I want my chicken coop to look like the one from “Far from the Madding Crowd”’
In his second instalment of all things chicken keeping, our columnist outlines the dos and don'ts of hen house maintenance.
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What the cluck? Waitrose announces ‘trailblazing’ pledge to help improve chicken welfare standardsWaitrose has signed up to the Better Chicken Commitment, but does the scheme leave Britain open to inferior imports?
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How an app can make you fall in love with nature, with Melissa HarrisonThe novelist, children's author and nature writer Melissa Harrison joins the podcast to talk about her love of the natural world and her new app, Encounter.
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Everything you need to know about one of sport's most gruelling rivalriesThis year's Boat Race is expected to play out to a global audience of 100million.
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Arthur Parkinson: I am a cleaner, security guard and matron to my happy hens
In his first regular chicken-keeping column for ‘Country Life’, Arthur Parkinson introduces his brood and touches on the importance of good housekeeping.
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From robins and hedgehogs to the Loch Ness Monster: Professor Karen Jones on Beastly BritainProfessor Karen Jones joins the Country Life podcast to talk about the animals that populate Britain, and how they've shaped our land, our culture and our lives.
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Hold the front page: How to find the ladybird hiding on this week's Country Life coverDid you struggle to find the ladybird on this week's Country Life front cover? You weren't the only one.
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The UK gets its first ‘European stork village’ — and it's in West SussexAlthough the mortality rate among white storks can be up to 90%, the future looks rosy for breeding pairs in southern England.
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Curious Questions: Why do the clocks go forward in Spring?As we move from Greenwich Mean Time to British Summer Time, some of your might be wondering: why — and if we'll always continue to change the clocks twice a year.
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The farmers who embrace the right to roam: 'Farming can be isolating... it’s really nice when we get people through the yard'Jane Wheatley speaks to a farming couple who actively encourage walkers to come across their land.
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Salmon fishing and other stories, with Marina GibsonThe angler extraordinaire joins the Country Life Podcast to talk fishing, conservation and bagpipes on the River Tay.
