Nature
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Some of the silliest animals on the planet, captured by you
The latest edition of the Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards is once again open for entries, celebrating the light side of the natural world.
By James Fisher Published
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The woodlark: the British songbird that is the ultimate masked singer
Its melody is sweeter than the nightingale's, yet the elusive woodlark seems destined to delight only a fortunate few.
By Jack Watkins Published
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John Lewis-Stempel: The beauty of the beach in winter
On a dull February morning, John Lewis-Stempel is consumed by childhood memories of the allure of the seashore, from the rhythmic, cresting waves and slippery seaweed of all shapes and hues to the shell-studded sand.
By Toby Keel Published
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'The equation is inescapable. Our rich societies will simply have to pay the proper price for food'
Country Life's columnist Agromenes urges us to take a cold, hard look at the way we grow and consume food.
By Country Life Published
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Opinion: Why the 'threat' of a new National Park has Galloway farmers up in arms
Galloway farmer Jamie Blackett on duck dating, snowdrop splitting, welcoming avian visitors and manning the barricades against an unwanted national park.
By Jamie Blackett Published
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Going wild for daffodils: 'Nothing beats daffodils as a symbol of spring... they tell us that winter is gone and will not come again'
The season of daffodils is upon us.
By Toby Keel Published
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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
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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
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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
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'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
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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
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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
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'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
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Meet the dry-stone wallers who restored a 300-year-old sheep pen in Cumbria
Craftsmen Steven Allen and Trevor Stamper hope restored this historic sheepfold as part of a wider campaign to help support and promote common-land grazing
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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


