In this issue

Creating woodland for nature
The Woodland Trust show how it can be done and highlights funding opportunities.

Goat health in the summer
A vet tells us what to look for in the warmer weather.

Gardening without chemicals
How to get the balance right for effective pest control...

Miniature Jersey Cattle-the only two in the UK?

Sally Crozer hopes there will be more

3 mins

You can help protect baby birds this breeding season

The RSBP says you can help all nesters but particularly watch out for ground nesting birds many of which are under threat

2 mins

Smallholding profile: Pocket House Studio

Helen Babbs visits a thriving Hebridean croft and weaving studio

5 mins

Grow Your Own refreshing brews

Mel Thomas says there are so many possibilities from your own back garden

5 mins

Making the most of fresh eggs and summer fruit

Henrietta Balcon celebrates the season of abundance

2 mins

How to deal with Pests the Natural Way

Lee Senior says create a healthy predator-prey balance in your garden

6 mins

How to create a hen-friendly garden

The British Hen Welfare Trust share their top tips to strike a perfect balance.

5 mins

Do chickens really experience empathy?

This month, Paul Donovan turns his attention to the psychological side of poultry behaviour, and investigates whether hens sense empathy – a trait indicative of mammals.

8 mins

Care of the fleece begins at shearing time

Claire Boley gives a guide to sorting and storing a fleece so it’s in good condition for spinning

2 mins

We're going on an alpaca walking experience

Cathy Darcey & Stuart Woolley share their journey with alpacas – and other animals – to make a business out of something they love doing

6 mins

Concerning view of British native breed Pig and Poultry

Mixed picture of British native equine breeds with Welsh Pony Sec B joining the At Risk group

2 mins

Harvesting the Honey

Claire Waring describes how you can collect and prepare to store your sweet crop

9 mins

Shropshire farmer creates nature-positive woodland

With funding and expert advice from the Woodland Trust's MOREwoods scheme, Mark Lea and his wife Liz planted 800 trees on an unproductive area of their land to support wildlife and climate adaptation, and supply wood fuel for their biomass boiler.

3 mins

Getting started with Alpacas

Welcome to our Alpaca Special where we focus on this versatile and attractive animal! In this in-depth feature, we look at management, explore the many reasons to keep alpacas and highlight understanding behaviour.

3 mins

Being able to respond to unexpected accidents on the smallholding is crucial

Hugh & Fiona Osborne describe how they have responded to a major setback to their smallholder plans. It may help you plan your response, should the worst happen.

7 mins

How can we ensure that Britain keeps farming?

Agricultural journalist, smallholder and Editor of the Ferguson Heritage Magazine Jane Brooks, joins us for her regular look at the world of agricultural machinery.

4 mins

Keeping Things Together

Claire Waring discusses methods of swarm control

5 mins

All about Asparagus

Lee Senior has some surprising facts about this delicious plant that you can grow in your veg patch

6 mins

I'll talk, you listen

Paul Donovan investigates the importance of vocalisation in chickens, and how it conveys a bird's feelings, and state of health

8 mins

Home is where the hen is

Chickens are an \"absolute necessity in anyone's life,\" says Cara Wheeldon It's no yolk! from healing properties to happiness, here's why poultry make the best pets

5 mins

The spring is a good time to think about getting some hens

What you need to know about adopting hens from the BHWT

5 mins

Poultry leg rings are an invaluable tool for poultry keepers

There are a vast array of types of leg rings on the market and they can be used in many ways. Fiona & Hugh Osborne guide you through the choices and applications.

5 mins

Broody Hen Disasters

Hatching chicks the natural way doesn't always go smoothly. Grant Brereton, author of The Broody Hen Hand Book, reveals some of the past challenges with broody hens that inspired his publication...

9 mins

Watching the goats on the Watchlist

Rare Breeds Survival Trust Conservation Adviser Andrea Parry Jones looks at how we can help our native breed goat

4 mins

Breed Focus: Angora Rabbits

Helen Babbs finds out about these easy-to-keep rabbits with their luxury fibre

6 mins

Meeting the people keeping British sheep breeds alive and well

David Cummins-Egan speaks to three smallholders who believe their breed will survive and thrive into the future

8 mins

Choosing a Spinning Wheel

Claire Boley considers what you need to look for when investing in a new wheel

2 mins

Medicinal plants formally known as weeds!

Mel Thomas says start small to make a difference in your garden

3 mins

Fly tipping is not a victimless crime

Country Land and Business Association (CLA) President Victoria Vyvyan says \"Report, report, report to highlight the extent of the crime\"

2 mins

These structurally beautiful shrubs and trees can provide shelter and privacy for your house

Jo Carter of English Woodlands looks at some options

4 mins

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The Country Smallholder Magazine Description:

The Country Smallholder is aimed at the ever-increasing UK audience interested in living a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable way of life. From people already living on a smallholding, to allotment owners; from those with a couple of acres of land, to those aspiring to get more out of their garden or even window box. With 73% of UK residents claiming to want to live more sustainably post Covid, The Country Smallholder has something for everyone.

Every issue will carry; free vet advice; helpful practical features on all aspects of smallholding, from keeping chickens to crop rotation; information on poultry, pigs, sheep, goats, cattle, and alpacas; rural crafts; property; small tractors and machinery, as well as keeping readers up to date with all the latest news and innovations.