Country Living UK

Whether you live in the town or countryside, in Country Living you’ll find a wealth of ideas for your home and garden, learn about traditional crafts, keep informed of rural issues, enjoy irresistible dishes using seasonal produce and, above all, escape the stress and strain of modern-day life.

Country Living

A note from the editor

December

Christmas GIFT GUIDE • Our hand-picked selection of presents from some of our favourite artisans

The new GOOD LIFE • There’s never been a better time to go self-sufficient. In our ongoing series, Sally Coulthard shares tried-and-tested tips from her Yorkshire smallholding

A Christmas wreath

“One minute I was at the OLIVIER AWARDS, the next I was SHOVELLING PIG MUCK” • Kelvin Fletcher made his name as a farmer on Emmerdale. But making it as a real farmer turned out to be another story. On the eve of a new series of the hit TV show following his journey, we meet Kelvin and his family on their Cheshire farm

THE RISE OF THE FARMER DRAMA • The world of farming has delivered some of our most successful reality film and TV shows in the past few decades. Here are some of our highlights

A SYLVAN CELEBRATION • Go wild this Christmas with our decorative makes and buys inspired by a magical winter woodland

MY WILD SIDE BILL BAILEY • The comic, author and conservationist shares his love for all-weather walks, endangered wildlife and fowl play with a chicken named Mrs Speckles

THE NEW COLOURS OF CHRISTMAS • These modern takes on classic seasonal colour pairings balance formality and frivolity with plenty of festive flair

THE SPELLBINDING STOAT • Meet the bewitching wee beastie that conjures up a white coat for winter and performs a trance-inducing dance

SEE, AMID THE WINTER SNOW • Deep in a Dorset Valley, artist Vanessa Bowman captures the nostalgic charm of a village in winter. Her use of colour and pattern attracts many customers, including the Highgrove Estate

STEPHEN MANGAN • ON SLEIGHING CHRISTMAS

A NOT SO SILENT NIGHT • On the sprawling Wintershall Estate, the local community and some scene-stealing farmyard animals come together to breathe riotous new life into the ancient Christian story

10 QUESTIONS WITH… KATHERINE PARKINSON • The star of new Jilly Cooper adaptation Rivals talks remote pubs, “old woman runs” and her worst Christmas present ever

DOGS of DISTINCTION • We meet the canine residents of some of the UK’s grandest institutions – from Highclere Castle to Oxford University – and, yes, dogs are allowed on the sofa

WHAT YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT ADVENT CALENDARS • Discover how a mother’s homemade biscuits a century ago sparked one of our most beloved Christmas rituals

BEST OPENING NUMBERS • Our pick of this year’s most charming, traditional and illustrative Advent calendars

THE RISE OF THE TEENY WEENY TREE • Forget your six-foot Norway spruce. These Christmas trees can fit in the palm of your hand and will never drop their needles. We meet the woodworking pair crafting tiny trees with a big following

ORDER YOUR COUNTRY LIVING 2025 DIARY & CALENDAR! • Get organised for the year ahead with our beautiful stationery collection, filled with uplifting seasonal images to inspire you each month

THE NEW TARTAN ARMY • Prickly Thistle has breathed new life into traditional tartan, reviving a dying industry in the Highlands and rebelling against fast fashion

THE BEST OF BRITISH DESIGN COUNTRY LIVING AT HOMEBASE

HOW TO DECLUTTER YOUR CHRISTMAS LIST • Fed up with buying fripperies for friends and family at Christmas? The CL team recommend their favourite gift experiences – no wrapping required

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