Nature

Rhododendrons: A beautiful excuse to lose the battle against invading flowers

Charles Quest-Ritson explains why these gorgeous purple flowers are not such a bad thing, really.

Curious Questions: How are hailstones formed? And how big can they get?

Inspired by the recent wacky weather, Martin Fone — author of 50 Curious Questions — turns his gaze to what is undoubtedly the strangest form of precipitation: hail.

Curious Questions: Do bees really need to be kept in artificial hives?

Beekeepers have kept their bees in filing cabinet-style hives for ya that we've long since ceased to question whether they actually need them. Yet why would such a simple, natural creature need such an obviously man-made home? Vicky Liddell speaks to one man who has found an alternative.

Female farmers: 'It doesn’t matter what sex you are – it’s about whether you’re good at the job'

Female farmers are far from being a rare breed. Not only are they getting their hands dirty but plenty of them are running the show as Anna Tyzack finds out.

An economist's blueprint for the countryside that ditches 'flawed romanticism', but still offers hope

Dieter Helm's latest book, Green and Prosperous Land, offers a radical blueprint for rescuing the British countryside. Clive Aslet takes a look.

Jason Goodwin: How legginess, though desirable on humans, is the devil in seedlings

Tibetan terriers: Friend to the famous, lovably lively and perhaps the Kennel Club's best-kept secret

They have a starry following, but characterful Tibetan terriers are still a well-kept secret. Emma Hughes meets the best dog of which you’ve never heard. Photographs by Sarah Farnsworth.

Eight breathtaking photographs from the Outdoor Photographer of the Year award

The world's greatest wildflowers: Where to find them and why they bring us so much joy

Lady’s slippers by the hundreds if not thousands, hillsides golden with daisies, swards of salvias: Sarah Raven salutes Bob Gibbons, who has dedicated the best part of his life to finding and documenting wildflowers. Photographs by Bob Gibbons.

Climbing the Sugar Loaf, the irresistibly perfect mountain in a ‘wild and lovely’ setting

The Sugar Loaf in Wales’s Black Mountains is a satisfying little peak to conquer, as Fiona Reynolds explains.

Nine spellbinding photographs celebrating the wonder and beauty of the British winter

With the chill of winter comes misty mornings and mountainous snowdrifts... a host of elements which combine to create the perfect landscape for beautiful nature photography.

Jason Goodwin: The quiet miracle of 'paths of will', where we shrug off authority and trust the people who have gone before

Jason Goodwin takes a moment to consider those little paths which spring up almost of their own accord, the muddy strips through the grass where common sense and expediency has triumphed over the planners and builders.

Curious Questions: One for sorrow, two for joy – but why are we so superstitious about magpies?

Superstitions swirl around all manner of different birds, but never more so than with magpies. We take a look at why.

Jason Goodwin: On 1930s gardeners, the tragedy of tree diseases and the sexual habits of earthworms

Our columnist Jason Goodwin is handed a gem of the past, only for it to lead him to a dismal realisation about his local woodland.

Country Life's best Instagram posts of 2018: Wondrous nature, spectacular architecture and men in red trousers

This year has been a stunning one for Country Life photography and we're lucky to have been able to share so many with you on our Instagram feed. From the queen and her gorgeous labradors to the rolling landscapes of this stunning country, we hope you enjoy the 20 best-loved posts of 2018. To see our entire gallery of photographs, follow @countrylifemagazine on Instagram.

Otmoor, the majestic Oxfordshire landscape that inspired Lewis Carroll, under threat once more

Curious Questions: Why on earth do we have Christmas trees?

In the middle of winter, we cut down fir trees, bring them inside and decorate them – then let them shed small, spiky needles throughout our homes. Why would we do such a thing? Toby Keel investigates.

The magical beauty of Britain, shown at its very best by the British Wildlife Photography Awards

Over the course of the last 10 years the British Wildlife Photography Awards have done a wonderful job of showcasing some of the most extraordinary natural wonders of this island.

11 superb photographs from the 2018 Wildlife Photographer of the Year people's choice award

The Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year award is one of the highlights of the calendar for those of us who love beautiful photographs of nature, and this year's shortlist for the LUMIX People's Choice Award shows exactly why.

The Duke of Cambridge on the countryside, wildlife and passing on his father's inspiring example to George, Charlotte and Louis