A major milestone

“You are reading the 200th edition of BBC Countryfile Magazine. The magazine was launched at the end of 2007 to support the brilliant TV programme and I took over in 2009 from the launch editor Cavan Scott. Of course, we wouldn’t still be here if it weren’t for our fabulous contributors and you, our loyal readers. So a massive thank you! And a special tip of the hat to John Craven, who has written a column in almost every one of those 200 issues.

Over the years, we have seen a lot of changes in the countryside and the magazine. Our website, countryfile.com, has become one of the authorities on the UK countryside – if you’re looking for a walk, a holiday, a place to stay or even a pair of walking boots, it’s your one-stop shop. We’ve also developed a countryside podcast, the Plodcast, for a more immediate fix of nature and landscape.

This issue, the editorial team and I have gone back over the best adventures we have had while working on the magazine and compiled a selection of highlights for you to enjoy. I hope you will be tempted to try some of our suggestions and relish the experiences as much as we did.

And as ever, there’s plenty more throughout the issue to get your teeth into, as we begin to put winter behind us and look towards the longer days of spring. Here’s to the next 200!

Fergus Collins, editor@countryfile.com

Don’t miss our nature and countryside Plodcast – available on all podcast providers.

THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS

Ben Lerwill

“Here at the mouth, the Dart River is wide and strong, with diamond glitter that comes and goes as the clouds shift.”

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John Craven

“Now, after writing 200 columns and presenting over 1,000 episodes of the TV programme, my belief in our countryside and its people is even stronger.”

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Caro Giles

“The beach school is unusual, but part of an outdoor learning movement that has grown in popularity since the 1990s.”

Photo: Getty