Visiting the countryside is good for your mental as well as physical health, a new survey has revealed. The survey, commissioned by the NFU, found that 87% of respondents who visit the British countryside and farmland said the visits had improved their wellbeing and nearly half (47%) said they valued the British countryside and farmland more since the pandemic began. Click here to find out more. For those of us who live in a rural area or who regularly visit the countryside, the result is little surprise. We would love to know where you head for in the countryside - which part of the UK has become your rural sanctuary? Or which area is your favourite getaway for a few days? Email your thoughts to[email protected] for your chance to appear on 'Countryside' magazine's letters page.
Gardens are in full bloom at this time of the year, displaying an abundance of colour and filling the air with joyous scents. There's still a few jobs to do, however, to make sure your garden looks its best, so click here to find out what gardening expert Pippa Greenwood is advising you to do in the month ahead.
While we might be enjoying the recent spell of hot weather seen across the UK, the same can't necessarily be said for our furry friends. Being outdoors in direct sunlight can spell danger in a number of ways. Click here to see our guide to looking after your pets in hot weather.
Do you drive an ATV? The NFU would like to know what you like and don't like about All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) or Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTV) to help us to look for the best manufacturers, whilst negotiating member savings. The survey takes 1-2 minutes, so please click here to take part.
Miranda Gore Browne's take on a cheesecake tart is a quick and easy way to get the same fix of the classic cheesecake, but needs no overnight chilling or long, slow baking. You can add different flavours to the shortbread and really impress your friends. Click here for this and lots more great recipes.
Quiz challenge
Try your hand at our fun countryside quiz. Click here for the answers
1. Snow peas are an edible-pod pea which is eaten whole. Which french-derived word is used as the name generally in the UK?
2. What is a baby rabbit called?
3. How many human players are there each side for a polo match?
4. If you completed the Three Peaks Challenge, which three UK mountains would you have climbed?
We've teamed up with Skinner's, the UK dog food brand, to give one lucky member the chance to win a bundle of dog food products, worth £250. Plus, there's the chance to win hiking boots – perfect for your country walks, and even a two-day botanical art course worth, £500. Take a look at all of our competitions and offers here.
With the return of many rural shows, we're delighted to give six Countryside members the chance to win a family ticket to the East Anglian Game and Country Fair, or, if you're looking for inspiration for your garden, why not enter our competition to win tickets to the special edition of Gardeners' World Live. You can enter here.
