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2 months ago | 
countryfile.com | Lauren Franklin |Sophie Ellis
As one of the guest presenters on BBC One's Countryfile, you might recognise Joe Crowley. But who is he, and what are his countryside connections? Joe Crowley is a British TV presenter and broadcast journalist. He is perhaps most well-known for his appearances on BBC One's Countryfile, The One Show and Panorama, as well as ITV's Tonight programme. He specialises in environmental journalism. Joe joined the Countryfile presenting line-up in autumn 2014 as a guest presenter.
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2 months ago | 
countryfile.com | Lauren Franklin |Sophie Ellis
In the UK, bank holidays are usually associated with barbecues, trips to the beach and an obsession with checking the weather forecast (if you're lucky enough to have the day off, of course). But where did the idea of a bank holiday come from, and why are they called that? The best UK UNESCO World Heritage sites to visit for unforgettable days outNo Easter holiday plans?
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2 months ago | 
countryfile.com | Lauren Franklin |Sophie Ellis
You might have seen the terms bouldering and climbing being used interchangeably, without really knowing the differences between them. But they're actually separate disciplines which will test different skills. What muscles does climbing work? Hint: it's more than just your armsAfraid of heights? Cliff camping is the extreme sport that you won't want to try out anytime soon...
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2 months ago | 
countryfile.com | Lauren Franklin |James Witts
Kendal Mint Cake is arguably the original energy bar. According to local Lake District legend, a Victorian pot of sugar being boiled for toffee was left unattended on a stove and the resulting opaque product cooled and solidified. Flavoured with peppermint syrup, Kendal Mint Cake was born. Well, history suggests so as Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the crest of Mount Everest in 1953, fuelled by four tea chests packed of the stuff.
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2 months ago | 
countryfile.com | Lauren Franklin |Sophie Ellis
Climbing – whether you opt for sport climbing, bouldering or something else – is a brilliant workout. If you climb outside, it can also be a fun and active way to spend time in nature. What muscles does walking tone? What muscles does running work? But in order to climb effectively and safely, as well as to continue progressing, you'll need more than just arm strength. Climbing works plenty of other muscles in your body.
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2 months ago | 
countryfile.com | Lauren Franklin |Melissa Hobson
A scuba diver has opened people’s eyes to the magical animals that can be found in UK waters when he shared a series of hypnotic videos of large stingrays swimming through Sussex waters. “From this month, large stingrays begin to show up in the shallow waters of the South East,” says scuba diver Gio Prince on Instagram. “The largest common stingrays I have ever seen have been here in Sussex.
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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.
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2 months ago | 
countryfile.com | Lauren Franklin |Sophie Ellis
Charlotte Smith is one of the guest presenters on BBC One's Countryfile, covering everything from foot and mouth and CAP reform to bog snorkelling. Find out where else you might recognise her face – or voice – from... Charlotte Smith is a British TV and radio presenter. Her work often focuses on rural and farming issues. Charlotte Smith joined the Countryfile presenting line-up in 1998 and left the series in 2009. She returned in 2014 as a guest presenter.
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2 months ago | 
countryfile.com | Lauren Franklin |Fergus Collins
When walking across the countryside, you've likely stumbled across a kissing gate. While we all seem to know they're called, have you ever wondered about the meaning behind the name? What is a trig point? Discover the secrets behind these odd pillars that dot the UK countrysideBritain's best country pub walksSmall wonders: Britain’s best easy hill walksA kissing gate is a single gate that pivots on a semi-circle between two posts, allowing humans to wriggle through but not livestock.
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2 months ago | 
countryfile.com | Lauren Franklin |James Witts
Three things in life are guaranteed: death, taxes and that the foods that are the most tempting result in big dollops of belly fat. However, there are healthy (and still tasty) alternatives, whether you’re cooking, nabbing a takeaway or nipping to the pub…What's the best alcoholic drink for my waistline? We check out the healthiest choices... Are you walking fast enough? How speeding up can tackle obesity and decrease mortality riskSuffer from gout, like Henry VIII?
