Dixe Wills

2 months ago | discoverwildlife.com | Dixe Wills

Over the millennia, humans have dreamed up some extraordinary ways of earning a living. However, there can have been few as dangerous – or as cruel – as striding out into an arena to battle a lion to the death. Perhaps surprisingly, new academic research on a horribly mutilated skeleton has shown that such bouts once occurred on British soil.

2 months ago | countryfile.com | Lauren Franklin |Dixe Wills

Mention Second World War prisoners of war and thoughts inevitably turn to Steve McQueen at Stalag Luft III in The Great Escape (one of the greatest WW2 films of all time), or perhaps to seachlight-dodging freedom-seekers held captive by the Germans at Colditz. What is often overlooked is that Britain too was home to hundreds of prison camps, containing thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen from the Axis forces. Why some places are more 'thankful' than others.

2 months ago | countryfile.com | Dixe Wills |Mark Sutcliffe |Vivienne Crow |Paul Bloomfield

There are plenty of brilliant walking trails across the UK, whether you're looking for stunning scenery, accessibility or family-family routes. But those up for a challenge should consider a long-distance trail. While they are all beautiful, they are also tougher than the average ramble – with some taking up to eight weeks to complete. We asked our team of experts for their favourite long-distance walking trails. Dare you try one this year?

2 months ago | countryfile.com | Lauren Franklin |Dixe Wills

The country’s soaring peaks, quiet valleys, and rugged coastlines have provided comfort to some of literature’s most brilliant yet tormented minds. Best nature quotes: our favourite sayings about the natural worldFrom John Clare’s tender depictions of rural life to Sylvia Plath’s haunting verses on the Yorkshire moors, these poets found both inspiration and escape in nature. While five of them are well-known, one – Violet Jacob – remains an overlooked voice of poetic sorrow.

2 months ago | countryfile.com | Lauren Franklin |Dixe Wills

The country’s soaring peaks, quiet valleys, and rugged coastlines have provided comfort to some of literature’s most brilliant yet tormented minds. Best nature quotes: our favourite sayings about the natural worldFrom John Clare’s tender depictions of rural life to Sylvia Plath’s haunting verses on the Yorkshire moors, these poets found both inspiration and escape in nature. While five of them are well-known, one – Violet Jacob – remains an overlooked voice of poetic sorrow.