Marvin the lamb, The Lost Gardens of Heligan
We begin our round up of Country Life's top Instagrams of 2019 just as we should, with the most beloved of all creatures, Marvin the lamb. Marvin basically broke the internet with his whimsical smile and teddy-bear face, receiving the most likes we've ever seen and propelling himself firmly into our hearts forever.
Asthall Manor, Oxfordshire
Our next highest number of likes fell to Asthall Manor in September. Beautifully framed by buttery stone gates, the gabled Jacobean Cotswold manor house was home to the extremely talented Mitford sisters.
The home of Birdie Fortescue, Norfolk
Interior designer Birdie Fortescue turned her family beach house into their main home. Our inbox was instantly bombarded with people asking who had supplied the stair runners and beautiful flagstone flooring.
Reddish House, Wiltshire
The 'dream house' and gardens of Cecil Beaton attracted admirers from all over the world in July, even converting one person who previously (unimaginably) hated period properties to our cause.
A sleeping dormouse, Yorkshire Dales
This little guy unsurprisingly garnered much love in November as he raised awareness for the dwindling dormouse population, suffering from loss of habitat. If you do see a dormouse, please report it on the PTES website.
A sleeping hedgehog, Suffolk
Another slumbering angel, this little guy taught our followers that baby hedgehogs are called hoglets. Longer summers have increased births later in the season, meaning that many hoglets are still too small to survive the winter cold. You can help by installing a hedgehog house or (if you don't have animals that would eat it themselves) leaving a little kitten or puppy food out for them if you know there are some in your area.
Findon Place, West Sussex
This year saw the birth of another Country Life Instagram account, Country Life Property. We recently celebrated the account passing 10K, and this wonderful picture shows just how we managed to pass the milestone so quickly!
Slad Valley, Gloucestershire
Beautiful country views are our bread and butter. The charming setting of Cider with Rosie shines in this post from September, reminding us that those little idyllic pockets of England are still there for those who care to find them.
The gardener's bothy at Gunton Hall, Suffolk
We're entirely unsurprised that this little beauty shot to the top of the leaderboard – after all, there is something uniquely fascinating about minature homes. This is certainly the case with Vine House, transformed from an awkwardly-shaped collection of rooms into a lovely, flowing home.
Badminton Horse Trials (1973), Gloucestershire
Finally, a lovely family portrait marking the 70th anniversary of Badminton reached our top ten by merit of the family pictured. One follower remarked Lord Snowdon's resemblance to British movie star Benedict Cumberbatch, while others were left longing for tweed outfits and woolly tights.
Country Life's best Instagram posts of 2018: Wondrous nature, spectacular architecture and men in red trousers
This year has been a stunning one for Country Life photography and we're lucky to have been able to share
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Sweet civilisation: What do you get when you ask architects to compete in a gingerbread competition?The Gingerbread City is back in London’s Kings Cross. Lotte Brundle pays it a visit.
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Sophia Money-Coutts: A snob's guide to meeting your in-laws for the first timeThere's little more daunting than meeting your (future) in-laws for the first time. Here's how to make the right kind of impression.
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Farmers of Britain, go forth and grow prawnsA new study has proposed that farmers could start growing king prawns to diversify income streams.
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The golden retriever: The world’s most likeable dog almost didn’t exist at allThey’ve been popping up everywhere this week — on the Tube, at Christmas parties and in the news — so it feels like the perfect moment to talk about the dog breed we’re lucky to have.
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In search of London’s earliest pintEarly houses — pubs open in the early hours to feed and water the market trade — have been a cornerstone of London for centuries. Yet, as Will Hosie finds, they aren’t stuck in the past.
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Aristotle believed they emerged spontaneously from mud, Sigmund Freud dissected thousands of them and they can dive lower than a nuclear submarine — but what is the truth about the eel?It would seem the European eel has a long way to go to win hearts, Laura Parker says of the slippery animal with an unfortunate image problem.
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The Alpine rescue dog built for blizzards, bred by monksAs snow fell across the UK this week, I found myself day-dreaming of St Bernards striding through the Alps — a snow-day dog worth celebrating.
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Better than Ozempic? 50 years of the Brompton bicycleOwen Wilson, James May and most of the middle-aged men and condescending hipsters you know love them. As the iconic folding bike turns 50 Lotte Brundle hops on one with the company's CEO.
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No more froths, no more foams, no more tweezers. Classic dining is making a comeback. Thank godFrom prawn cocktail and Arctic roll to starched tablecloths and ‘nicotine cream’ on the walls, it’s out with the new and in with the old in the restaurant world
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'It is hard to beat the excitement of watching a peregrine you have trained stoop from 1,000ft, going more than 100mph' — the complicated world of falconryA combination of spellbinding sport and profound empathetic connection, falconry–a partnership in which the bird maintains the upper hand–offers a window into ‘the deeper magic’.
