How to
Traditional outdoor skills, country crafts and delicious seasonal recipes
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
The best mushroom identification books of 2024
Forage for fungi confidently with our pick of the best mushroom identification books.
How to prune an apple tree in winter
A few simple snips and cuts in the winter months means strong, healthy fruit later in the year for your apple trees.
Wood fire guide: how to burn firewood, how to light a fire and best wood to burn
As the nights draw in, there’s nothing cosier than a crackling log fire or warming wood burner. Here's our expert guide on how to burn firewood, the best firewood to burn for the perfect blaze and tips on how to light a fire
Jobs for the garden this winter
Winter is a great time for gardeners to take stock, tidy up, protect plants and plan ahead. Find out exactly when and how to complete your winter garden jobs with our month-by-month winter gardening guide
What's new?
Are you eating 30 plants a week? Supercharge your nutrition levels with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's simple tips
As science proves the many health-boosting benefits of eating at least 30 different plants each week, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall shares his tips to help you meet the magic target.
The best foraging gifts for 2024: the art of identifying, gathering and bringing wild food home
Shop for the forager in your life, if they love bringing food from the hedgerow to the kitchen table.
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The perfect sloe gin recipe
Try making this delicious sloe gin recipe in the autumn months and enjoy a warming sup when the weather cools. It also makes the ideal gift for any gin lover.
How to dry walking boots and keep them as good as new - or nearly!
Knowing how to dry your walking shoes and boots properly means you'll have dry feet for your next walk – it will also prolong the life of your footwear. Here, we reveal the best way to do it...
Crafts
How to paint flowers
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to capture the transient beauty
of wildflowers? Watercolour artist Cath Hodsman gives
a step-by-step tutorial on how to paint flowers
How to sketch landscapes with charcoal
Sketching with charcoal can be a delightful way to appreciate your favourite country views. Artist Abigail Edgar shares her passion for drawing outdoors and offers some advice on how to get the best results...
How to make potpourri
Fallen pine cones, bark and dry leaves form the perfect base for a colourful and fragrant potpourri. Here's how to make it yourself at home.
Food and Recipes
Blackberry guide: where to find, how to cook and recipe ideas
In late summer and early autumn you'll find blackberries in abundance across the countryside. Here's everything you need to know about these little fruits, including when and where to pick blackberries, how to cook them, storing ideas and the best blackberry recipes.
Nettle guide: where to find it, how to pick safely and recipe ideas
Your beginner's guide to foraging for nutritious nettles, with tips on how to pick to avoid the sting, plus some delicious recipes you'll want to try today.
April foraging: Best plants to find and how to use them
Spring is finally here – and with it comes longer days, warmer temperatures and blooming flowers. It's a great month to be outside, not only for spotting wild things but for gathering them, too. Find out what to forage in the UK this month how to do it responsibly.
Foraging
When does autumn start? Here's everything you need to know about the golden season
Autumn is a vibrant season of colour, woodland stomps and hot chocolates. But when does autumn start? And what are the first signs to look for?
6 edible flowers that will elevate your delectable bakes instantly
Decorate your bakes with edible flowers
Elderberry guide: where to find, health benefits and recipe ideas
Late summer and early autumn are the perfect seasons for heading into the British countryside in search of elderberries. Learn how to identify, where to find, the health benefits and how to cook elderberries with our expert guide.
Foraging in Britain
Monthly foraging guide
Our beginner's guide to foraging in Britain explains what you can gather in hedgerows, woodlands, along the coast and in the countryside. Learn how to forage responsibly and safely, what's in season each month and where to find it, plus recipe ideasGarlic mustard: where to find this delicious plant, what it tastes like and how to use it
All you need to know about the tasty plant garlic mustard
Wild garlic guide: where to find, how to use and recipe ideas
Spring is the perfect time to go foraging for this versatile and pungent plant, which can be whipped up into a delicious soup or pesto. BBC Countryfile Magazine's expert guide explains where to find it, how to forage it responsibly and how to cook it, before revealing some of our favourite wild garlic recipe ideas.
Best foraging courses in the UK
Interested in learning how to forage for plants, mushrooms and berries in the British countryside? Here is our pick of the best foraging courses from across Britain to help you learn the skills you need to get started safely.
Green Living
Best sustainable dishwasher tablets: 8 eco-conscious options for 2024
Keep your dishes and your conscience clean with our pick of the best eco-friendly dishwasher tablets
Best sustainable compost to buy in 2024: 10 peat free options
From mushroom compost to wool, give your plants a healthy peat-free start with our pick of the best sustainable compost for your garden.
How to save water in your garden
As our summers become warmer and drier, it may be necessary for gardeners to change their habits. Our guide includes information on rainwater harvesting, when to water your garden and ways to make your garden more drought-resistant.
Outdoor Skills
When do the clocks change?
Find out when the clocks change – and why we change them. Plus, learn all about the history of daylight saving in the UK.
How to fell a tree
Felling a tree is dangerous says Fergus Collins, so only those with the appropriate skills should do it - and if in doubt call in a tree surgeon
Where to survive the apocalypse – preppers should actually be looking at these countryside refuges
Suppose the day came when the world as we know it fell apart. What would you do? Where in the UK would you go to hide to survive an apocalypse? Here is our guide on where to go and how to survive an apocalypse in Britain.
Wildlife gardening
Best bird nesting boxes for your garden in 2024
Help support the local wildlife by providing safe nest boxes for the birds in your garden.
How to trim hedges
Want to know how to manage and trim a hedge? Here's some advice from Ben Newton, Wilder Landscapes Advisor for Norfolk Wildlife Trust
When to plant sweet peas
What's the best time of year to sow sweet peas and when should you plant them out in your garden?
