In this issue

Why this Chelsea will be the prettiest yet

Going crazy for lupins
Catch a nightingale before it’s too late
Pioneer pilots: the first female high-fliers

Rivers of waste

Simon Cooper traces the history of sewage discharges in British waters and suggests possible solutions

5 mins

Lek at me

Managed moorland is the place to observe an extraordinary mating ritual

3 mins

The lions of Trafalgar Square

Britain's greatest masterpieces

4 mins

With a spring in its step

Kathryn Bradley-Hole selects some of the many highlights of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which at long last returns to its traditional May slot

5 mins

Oriental splendour

Glamorous and easy to grow, Japanese tree peonies are the mainstay of Primrose Hall Nursery in Bedfordshire, says Val Bourne

5 mins

Stands and delivers

The walled garden, Culham Court, Berkshire The home of Urs and Francesca Schwarzenbach Disciplined design underpins maximal planting to create a garden that stays in the memory, finds Tiffany Daneff

6 mins

Loopy about lupins

Steven Desmond uncovers the touching story behind the exotic, multi-coloured field of lupins at Terwick in West Sussex

5 mins

‘Believe nothing to be impossible'

‘No harder than dancing the Charleston’, according to Lady Heath, flying planes was all the rage for the women of the 1930s, explains Charles Harris

6 mins

Take a walk on the wild side

From watching whales and puffins to stalking, fishing and playing rounders on golden beaches, the Benmore Estate, on the island of Mull, is a private paradise offering unforgettable memories for families

2 mins

To ring a nightingale

On a cold spring morning, Patrick Galbraith held a nightingale in the palm of his hand. Yet, by the time he has grandchildren, this amazing little bird may have sung its last

7 mins

Skimming the surface

With a mind-boggling ability to walk on pools, rivers and even the ocean, water skaters are Nature’s great survivors, says Ian Morton

6 mins

ENGLISH HOMES OLD & NEW

English Home part V Each month of this 125th anniversary year, COUNTRY LIFE illustrates a period in the development of the English great house. In the fifth of this 12-part series, John Goodall looks at developments through an age of revolution

8 mins

Tea and tour at Arley Hall

Charles Stanley and COUNTRY LIFE welcomed guests to the this historic house in Cheshire for a memorable afternoon

1 min

Three of a kind

The beautiful North Wessex Downs are the leafy backdrop to three imposing country houses for sale

5 mins

Read all stories from Country Life UK

Country Life UK Magazine Description:

Country Life; architecture, gardens, countryside, property, the very best of British life Published by IPC Media. Country Life, the quintessential English magazine, is undoubtedly one of the biggest and instantly recognisable brands in the UK today. It has a unique core mix of contemporary country-related editorial and top end property advertising. Editorially, the magazine comments in-depth on a wide variety of subjects, such as architecture, the arts, gardens and gardening, travel, the countryside, field-sports and wildlife. With renowned columnists and superb photography Country Life delivers the very best of British life every week.