21 joyous pictures of Britain to raise your spirits on the first day of Spring
There's never been a more important time to get out into the countryside and smell the roses. Or watch the lambs. Or marvel at the views, and dozens of other things.


There may be a lot we can't do at the moment, but there are still a lot of things we can do — and to inspire you, we've chosen 20 beautiful images from across England, Scotland and Wales to celebrate the beauty of this island.
How to salute a magpie
Acknowledging and hailing magpies is a long-held country superstition. We reveal how to salute a magpie, and other fascinating facts.
Credit: Alamy Stock Photo
9 fascinating facts about hares
We reveal 9 fascinating facts about our favourite spring mascot.
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An effortlessly contemporary home in Surrey for quiet contemplation
Graylings in the Surrey Hills was designed by Baufritz and is a delight of modern design.
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Wigs, Weddings, Powder and Palaces: Live out your Bridgerton fantasies at the Old Royal Naval College in London
The Greenwich attraction, which is where Colin and Penelope's wedding in the Netflix series was filmed, is celebrating 100 years of being used as a film and TV set with a period drama-themed tour.
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Sir David Attenborough’s record-breaking Nature documentary reveals the devastating effects of bottom trawling on our oceans
Bottom trawling is a disaster for fish stocks, but it also releases previously stored carbon back into the atmosphere.
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Tony Juniper: 'King Charles is the most influential environmentalist of all time'
Tony Juniper CBE, the head of Natural England, on saving the world, breeding budgies and the King's importance in raising awareness of the plight of Nature.
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Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: 'Nature’s ephemeral beauty reminds us of our own finite existence'
A withering rosebud, the brevity of blossom and the one-day wonder of the mayfly: Nature’s ephemeral beauty reminds us of our own finite existence, but melancholy transience also offers moments of magic.
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'All the floral world wants to do is procreate': Why pollen is nothing to sneeze at
Pollen often hits the headlines for making us sneeze, but it plays a vital role in far more serious matters.
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Polluting water executives now face up to two years in prison, but will the new laws make much of a difference?
The Government has announced that water company executives caught covering up illegal sewage spills could now be imprisoned for two years, under new laws — but many still have their doubts.
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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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Exploring the countryside is essential for our wellbeing, but Right to Roam is going backwards
Campaigners in England often point to Scotland as an example of how brilliantly Right to Roam works, but it's not all it's cracked up to be, says Patrick Galbraith.
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In all its glory: One of Britain’s most striking moth species could be making a comeback
The Kentish glory moth has been absent from England and Wales for around 50 years.