CATEGORIES

LIGHTWEIGHT JACKETS

Lightweight waterproof jackets are ideal for summer showers, but will they keep you dry in long spells of heavy rain? Emily Woodhouse tries out some of the best on Dartmoor

BACK ON TRACK

Walking in natural surroundings can have astonishing benefits for our health - it can even help to rebuild confidence and resilience. That's why the charity Crisis is leading walks for homeless people in the spectacular settings of the Peak District National Park. Do the walks work? Mark Hillsdon went to find out...

BETWEEN WESTERN SHORES

Dixe Wills forges a thrilling new West Country walking route-coast-to-coast from Somerset to Dorset

TOP 10 ROYAL GARDENS

To celebrate the coronation of King Charles III, we visit gorgeous green spaces with connections to the monarchy

TO PLANT MORE TREES, WE NEED MORE FORESTERS

In a sawmill on the Scottish Borders, a pioneering group of students who one day will have the future of our forests in their hands are learning the fine details of turning trees into planks. It's part of their on-site training as the first apprentices in Britain to study for a degree in professional forestry.

A view from the farm Adam Henson

OUR NEW KING IS DEVOTED TO THE BRITISH COUNTRYSIDE

Nicola Chester

Wandering cows, potholes and unnamed lanes can turn rural roads into a test of patience

Ellie Harrison

Dogs are much loved in Britain and they enrich our lives immeasurably, but not all of us are enamoured

Crake expectations

How could a farmland bird with an extraordinary call, which was once as familiar as the blackbird, have been driven from all but the outer fringes of the British Isles? James Fair investigates the case of the vanishing corncrake

Doctor nature

TV doctor Amir Khan has recently become president of the RSPB, but what does the role entail? Annabel Ross meets him to find out - and discovers how closely our health is related to time spent in nature

Art of a dale

The trees, lanes and green pastures of Wensleydale have inspired Yorkshire artist Simon Palmer for 40 years. Susie White talks to the water-colourist about his spiritual connection with the landscape

Rainforests on our doorstep

When we think of rainforests, the Amazon or the Congo spring to mind, but Britain has its own share, full of wild character, thronging with life and in desperate need of protection. Guy Shrubsole tells the story of these secret forgotten habitats

DISCOVER - SOUTH PEMBROKESHIRE

From the peaceful, tree-banked waterways of the Cleddau Estuary to the spectacular sea stacks, castles and villages of the coast, south Pembrokeshire is the perfect place to while away a spring or summer holiday, promises Julie Brominicks

LIFE LINES

Healthy hedgerows teem with wildlife- and absorb greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Anna Turns celebrates these unsung wonders of the countryside and learns how to keep them flourishing

A walk in Milk Wood

Writer Dylan Thomas and broadcaster Cerys Matthews grew up looking at the same view of Swansea Bay and share a love of nature and landscape - now Cerys has brought one of his most famous works to life for a new, younger audience

HOPE FOR EDEN?

The BBC's stunning new series Wild Isles reveals that nature flourishes in Britain's wonderfully benign conditions: rich seas, varied geology and a kind climate. Despite the devastating setbacks of recent decades, these natural advantages offer good prospects for the future recovery of wildlife, writes Patrick Barkham

WILD CAMPING AND LAND ACCESS

A recent High Court decision determined that no right to wild camp exists on Dartmoor, prompting a large protest on Stall Moor. As people clamour for greater access to nature, we investigate whether the public right to explore the countryside is being eroded

WILL NEW GOVERNMENT PLANS REVERSE NATURE DECLINE?

COUNTRYFILE ISSUES

Singing with nightingales

As the sun sets over a Sussex woodland, folk singer Sam Lee leads a small group of curious people to listen to the rare and beautiful song of the nightingale

BORN TO RUN

A glimpse of the lightning-bolt that is a running hare is one of Britain's most thrilling wildlife encounters. Adele Brand takes us deeper into the world of this magnificent mammal

DISCOVER WILD ISLE OF MAN

From rugged sea cliffs and green glens to enchanting kelp forests and horse mussel reefs, the Isle of Man offers lovers of the wild - and wildlife - an escape like no other. Islander Fiona Gell reveals what makes this microcosm of the British Isles so special

Nicola Chester

The power of books to connect us to landscapes and other people is stronger than ever

A view from the farm

THE RIGHT BALANCE IS CRUCIAL FOR REWILDING PLANS

TOP 7 WALKS IN NATIONAL PARKS

From epic mountain climbs to tranquil seaside strolls, Danny Graham reveals his favourite national park trails

A WILD ISLAND ADVENTURE

From the streets of Scotland's second city to the summit of an island fell, in just a few short hours, Joe Pontin enjoys an exhilarating escape

GREAT RIDGE RAMBLE

With stunning views, cosy pubs and cafés, plus a historic ruin, this exhilarating Peak District path delivers everything you could hope for in a classic country walk, enthuses Tim Bates

HIDDEN TREASURE

Sheltered by Fairlight Cliffs, Pett Level Beach in Sussex is a favourite spot for quiet family adventures, says Tanya Jackson

THE LURE OF THE WILD

Purple Arctic-Alpine flowers and bluebells colour a craggy habitat that’s home to one of the Brecon Beacons wildest views, says

A rare breed

With their webbed feet, supersensitive noses and abundant energy, otterhounds were perfectly adapted to track their prey, but the dog is now disappearing in Britain. Luc ap Rolant asks, can they survive?

Shore start

Once a week, all year round, a group of lucky children from Northumberland swap their classroom for a day on the beach. This natural setting provides a great way to learn, writes Caro Giles