forests and woodlands
7 most magical Gruffalo Trail forests in Britain
Enter the 'deep, dark wood' with BBC Countryfile Magazine's pick of the best Gruffalo Trail days out in the UK
Clearwell Caves walk, Gloucestershire
Experience the magic of Clearwell Caves on the edge of the Forest of Dean then head out on a short circular walk through Great Lambsquay Wood and the village of Clearwell
Woodland flowers: 12 enchanting species to spot
As winter gives way to spring, Britain's forest floors burst into life with a blanket of wildflowers, from snowdrops and wild garlic to bluebells and primroses. BBC Countryfile Magazine reveals 12 magical woodland flowers to look out for on your next walk...
John Craven: Investing in foresters
If Britain is to plant more trees successfully, we need to train more people in the craft of forestry, says the Countryfile presenter.
Walk: Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire
Take a walk through the historic Burnham Beeches National Nature Reserve – one of the best examples of ancient woodland in Britain. The forest is best explored in the autumn months with a midway lunch stop at a traditional country pub.
Walk: Highmeadow Woods, Gloucestershire
Thread through the Forest of Dean's autumnal trees, stopping off half way at the White Horse Inn pub, before winding back on a woodland path.
Wistman's Wood walk, Devon
Dartmoor National Park's ancient Wistman’s Wood is reached on an easy walk on a waymarked path from Two Bridges car park. Peer in beneath the trees' lichen-covered boughs to a woodland that has remained unspoilt for hundreds of years.
Day out: Coedwig Pen-bre and Coed Pen-y-Bedd, Carmarthenshire
There are few better ways to experience the dawn chorus than to wake in a tent among woodland, your hidden presence allowing the birds to sing undisturbed. Discover the dawn and more at this quiet wood on the south coast of Wales.
Day out: Tollymore Forest Park, County Down
Explore racing waters and exotic trees in one of the UK’s most enchanting forests
Virtual escapes: magical woodlands and forests
Experience the sights and sounds of the countryside with our round-up of the best wildlife and nature films about Britain's forests and woodlands.
Day out: Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire
The ancient trees of Sherwood Forest have centuries of tales to tell, none more so than the Major Oak, an ageing giant said to have been a valuable ally to one of England’s folk heroes
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.
Day out: Mortimer Forest, Herefordshire
Explore the mysterious marvels of the Welsh Marches’ fabled Mortimer Forest
Walk: Dog Falls and Glen Affric, Highland
An inspired vision to save the Caledonian Forest is unfolding in Glen Affric – take a walk through the trees and find out more
Podcast: A delightful adventure searching for truffles deep in the woods
In this podcast episode join Tom Lywood and his dog Tobacco as they hunt for rare and delicious truffles in a West Country woodland.
Bike Ride: Epping Forest, Essex
Once visited by kings and queens, Epping’s woodlands, grasslands, heaths, rivers, bogs and ponds form one of London’s finest and largest open spaces
Rare mountain forests set to return to the Scottish Highlands
A major rewilding initiative to restore unique high-altitude mountain forests and wildlife to areas of Scotland where they have been lost has begun – with plans to plant 100,000 more trees in 2020.
UK's pine marten population grows thanks to their adaptable diets
Research attributes the gradual increase of pine marten numbers in the UK to their opportunistic behaviour and adaptable diets.
Podcast: A mindful wander in the Forest of Dean – and an encounter with boar
Sarah Orme and Fergus Collins head to the Forest of Dean to discuss mindfulness and how nature can provide us with the head space to cope with the stresses of modern life, in episode 3, season 9 of the Countryfile podcast
Podcast: Learn bushcraft, tracking and survival skills in the National Forest
In episode seven of our weekly podcast, historian Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough takes a woodland walk in the National Forest with bushcraft expert Lisa Fenton.
Listen to: Into the Forest with BBC Radio 3
This midsummer week (16 – 24 June), BBC Radio 3 will be featuring an exploration of how forests have, in different ways, affected the human imagination and inspired the creativity of artists throughout the centuries.
Is woodland ownership good for the health of our countryside?
More and more people are buying small patches of woodland for recreation and to provide firewood - but is it good for the health of our countryside?
Matt Baker: How can we save Britain's native woodland?
The wood that Countryfile's Matt Baker played in as a boy is revealed as ancient woodland. What legends lie in the boughs, and how can we save Britain's ancient woodlands?