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BBC Countryfile Magazine - July 2025

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In this issue

WALK THE ISLE OF WIGHT It’s a royal favourite and a geological wonder. Ben Lerwill goes cliff-walking on England’s sunniest island. THE CARING GARDEN Poppy Okotcha turned her back on the jet-setting life of a model to work with her hands in the soil. We find out why. TOP 10 BOAT TRIPS All aboard! Melanie O’Shea travels the coastline to discover the UK’s greatest island-hopping experiences. SAFE HAVEN FOR SEALS Melissa Hoson helps out at Mallydams Wood Wildlife Centre where ailing seal pups are nursed back to health. WINGS OF HOPE Ahead of the Big Butterfly Count, we ask how we can bring these winged wonders back from the brink of extinction.

The best Channel Island beaches

The beaches of the Channel Islands offer white sands, solitude and unique wartime history. Here are Matt Baird's magnificent seven

2 mins

SARAH RUGGINS SMASHES RECORDS TO CYCLE THE LENGTH OF BRITAIN AND BACK

In a feat of remarkable mental and physical resilience, endurance cyclist Sarah Ruggins is now the fastest person to ride from John o’ Groats to Land’s End - and back again

2 mins

THE ROMAN MASSACRE THAT NEVER HAPPENED

New research debunks the theory of a slaughter at Maiden Castle

2 mins

TREE ‘OLDER THAN STONEHENGE’ FOUND

The 5,000-year-old tree dug up in Cambridgeshire offers a rare glimpse into Britain's past

2 mins

AT ONE WITH THE WILD

In her new book, expert forager Mo Wilde inspires us to get adventurous with nature's pantry

2 mins

RACOONS AND PINK SALMON A THREAT TO UK WILDLIFE

Experts update the watchlist of invasive non-native species that could disrupt British ecosystems in the next 10 years

2 mins

CICADAS RETURN AFTER 30-YEAR ABSENCE

Once considered extinct, the New Forest cicada is back thanks to a new reintroduction project

1 mins

PENNIES FROM HEAVEN

While the origins of this hazardous tradition have been lost to the sands of time, the hot pennies are still flying in the small Devon town of Honiton every year, reveals Pat Kinsella

3 mins

Courgette, feta and broad bean quiche

Be the star baker at all your summer parties with this foolproof veg-filled recipe from celebrated Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood

2 mins

Big business has a critical role to play in saving our woodlands

The public outcry that swept the nation after the mindless destruction of the world-famous Sycamore Gap tree that had stood for 150 years in a dramatic dip of Hadrian's Wall showed just how much we care about our heritage trees. But are we doing enough to safeguard them?

3 mins

Pigs are environmental engineers, not architects of destruction

A VIEW FROM THE FARM

2 mins

THE ISLE OF WIGHT

Literary connections, remnants of prehistory and wide-open scenery. Ben Lerwill gets lost in the unique thrall of England's sunniest island

6 mins

The caring garden

Poppy Okotcha turned her back on the jet-setting lifestyle of a top model for a more down-to-earth way of life. Fergus Collins meets the regenerative gardener and author to find out why

6 mins

TOP 10 BRITAIN'S BEST BOAT TRIPS

Melanie O'Shea heads on a grand coastal tour to discover the UK's greatest island-hopping experiences

8 mins

Safe haven

Risk, Scrabble, Bop It... not games night at the pub but the rescued seals at Mallydams Wood Wildlife Centre. Melissa Hobson spends a day nurturing ailing pups on their road to recovery

7 mins

Wing's of hope

Where have all the butterflies gone? Ahead of 2025's Big Butterfly Count, Richard 'Bugman' Jones looks at the fate of the UK's winged wonders and how we can all help to bring them back from the brink

6 mins

Dawn of freedom

After the Supreme Court ruled to allow wild camping in Dartmoor National Park, now is the perfect time to exercise your right in Devon. Wild-camping novice Matt Havercroft enjoys a night under the stars

8 mins

What should I do if I'm stung by an Asian hornet?

Asian or yellow-legged hornets (Vespa velutina) can deliver a very painful sting widely described as being “jabbed with a red-hot needle”.

3 mins

How can I lower my cholesterol?

“Cholesterol is a type of blood fat, which is made in the liver. It’s found in some foods, too,” says Tina Dawson, lipid specialist nurse at cholesterol charity, Heart UK. “We all need cholesterol in our bodies to keep us ticking over, but too much in the blood clogs up arteries and leads to health problems.”

2 mins

Do dogs get sunburnt?

We're used to slathering ourselves in sunscreen on hot, sunny days, but it turns out our four-legged companions are just as vulnerable to the sun's harmful effects. Dogs can suffer from sunburn just like we do, so it's important we're armed with the knowledge to better protect them.

2 mins

Why can't I sleep after exercise?

Exercise is the best medicine - for many, that includes improving their slumber. A 2021 study showed that regular physical activity can improve sleep quality and duration. An earlier 2013 study found that adults who exercised for at least 30 minutes a day slept an average 15 minutes longer than those who were sedentary, and that moderate-intensity exercise improved sleep quality in insomnia patients.

1 mins

Where do our place names come from?

Britain's place names offer intriguing clues into local history and landscape. They are also a record of the waves of migration over the past several thousand years, with each group of people leaving their mark in the language. In the same way, settlers from England, Wales and Scotland created legacies in the names of the new lands they colonised in North America.

2 mins

How are canoeing and kayaking different?

An easy way to remember the difference between kayaking and canoeing is the paddle. Canoeing involves sitting or kneeling in an open boat using a paddle with one blade. You paddle facing forward and propel the craft forward from one side. Whereas in a kayak, you sit down with your legs in front of you while propelling forward with a double-bladed paddle.

1 mins

Learn natural navigation

Navigating using nature's clues is a rewarding way to explore the countryside. Here's how to ditch the GPS and nurture a more engaging bond with nature

3 mins

Kit

We rate the latest hiking, open-water swimming and trail-running products

4 mins

Future-facing planning can help us build the 'model' villages of the future

My childhood holidays often included a visit to a compact and picturesque model village. My brother and I loomed delightedly down tiny streets like friendly giants, dripping ice cream on miniature tiled roofs.

2 mins

Read all Stories from BBC Countryfile Magazine

BBC Countryfile Magazine Description:

Publisher: Our-Media-Ltd

Category: Lifestyle

Language: English

Frequency: Monthly

Countryfile Magazine inspires you to explore forgotten corners of the great British countryside and provides knowledge of the people and wildlife that inhabit it. We want to tempt you into trying new things, seek out new places and make the most of Britain’s beautiful landscapes.