Samantha Stocks
Sam is a freelance writer and editor with a passion for wildlife and the outdoors.
Recent articles by Samantha Stocks
8 weird and wonderful winter woodland mysteries: find these odd natural phenomena on your next walk
Take time to look closely at the details of the woodland, and you'll be rewarded, even in the depths of winter
Christmas craft: How to make a natural Christmas garland
Celebrate the vitality of nature in the colder months with a Christmas garland made using foraged items, says Lake District florist Rachel Wardley.
Big Seaweed Search Week: how to take part and what to look for
Visiting the coast this July? Join in the Big Seaweed Search to help assess the state of the UK’s seaweed — a vital carbon store that can help mitigate the impact of climate change.
How climate change impacted UK wildlife in 2021
With climate change affecting weather patterns around the world, each year brings more unexpected and surprising findings about the state of nature. Here we round up how ever-unpredictable weather patterns affected nature and wildlife across the UK in 2021.
Britain’s best country pubs with rooms
Britain's atmospheric country pubs and inns offer some of the best places to stay overnight, giving visitors a real taste of tradition, history, and local produce, along with offering a good starting point to access some of the nation's most scenic countryside.
Boots and Beards interview: Walking for minority communities
Glaswegian hillwalking group Boots & Beards, now the subject of a BBC documentary, works to boost wellbeing in minority communities and provide access to the countryside. We chat to volunteer Zain Sehgal.
How to trace your rural family tree
Have you ever wanted to know more about your family tree? Most of our ancestors lived and worked in the countryside. With modern digital resources, you can begin a fascinating journey tracking down your family history, says Sarah Williams from Who Do You Think You Are Magazine.
Game meat with high levels of lead being sold in UK supermarkets
As reported by Countryfile on 12 December, the lead shot used to kill game continues to pose a health risk to humans and wildlife. Now, campaigning group Wild Justice reveals the alarming results of tests on game meat sold at major UK supermarkets
Christmas crafts: How to make a Christmas table decoration
Find out how to create a natural Christmas table centrepiece for the festive season, making the most of all that nature has to offer in winter
Earliest known animal carvings in Scotland discovered
Prehistoric carvings of deer have been found at Kilmartin Glen, Scotland, providing the first clear examples of animal rock art in the UK.
Living With Mammals survey: how to take part and species to spot
Find out how you can help shed light on the state of UK’s mammals by recording sightings to the Living With Mammals survey.
Wildlife successes abound at RSPB reserves during 2020
A new report from the RSPB reveals that, in spite of Covid-19 restrictions, wildlife experienced a great year on many of its reserves.
Breathtaking photographs of life beneath the UK’s seas
Gain a new perspective of life in our seas with this amazing gallery of images collated by the Marine Conservation Society.
National Trust reintroduces beavers to southeast England
Following the success of the reintroduction of beavers to land cared for by the National Trust in Somerset last year, a further pair have been released on the edge of the South Downs.
Climate change sees mixed fortunes for wildlife in 2020
National Trusts’ 2020 weather and wildlife review investigates how changeable weather conditions due to climate change have impacted nature in the UK, revealing which species have benefitted during the past year, and which have suffered.
Great British Beach Clean finds PPE littering the UK’s shorelines
Single-use PPE is quickly finding its way to the ocean, showing that the global coronavirus pandemic is having a damaging impact on the environment.
The Woodland Trust aim to plant 50 million trees by 2021
In an ambitious new initiative, the Woodland Trust has launched The Big Climate Flightback to tackle climate change, and are calling on the public to plant more trees.
Sea eagles successfully breed in Deeside for the first time in 200 years
A pair of sea eagles have fledged two chicks in the Deeside area of the Cairngorms National Park this year.
Gloucestershire site welcomes the return of Britain’s rarest butterfly
The UK’s largest reintroduction programme to bring back the large blue butterfly to Rodborough Common in Gloucestershire has been hailed a success.
Wild beavers granted legal right to remain in England
Devon’s thriving beaver population is set to stay, thanks to a new decision from the Government.
Guide to kestrels: how to identify and where to see
Hanging in the breeze, hunting for prey, this acrobatic raptor thrives beside the sea. Learn more about this fascinating bird of prey, with our expert guide to kestrels, including the best places to see in the UK.
World’s first forest soundmap project calls for participants
The organisers behind Timber Festival are calling on people to contribute audio recordings to create the world’s first forest ‘soundmap’.
Nature reserves damaged as lockdown restrictions ease
Disturbance to wildlife, wildfires, vandalism and littering have been reported by many Wildlife Trusts across the UK as people descended upon reserves as coronavirus restrictions ease.
Daily connection to nature can give people lasting benefits
A review from The Wildlife Trusts and the University of Derby suggests that people feel the benefits of having daily contact with nature for months afterwards.
