Countryman's Diary

Peter Walker at his typewriter – the first picture the D&S Times used of him, in 1967, when his first Carnaby book was published

Countryman's Diary

'I can't imagine not writing' - a look back at the career of Heartbeat writer Peter Walker's life

Cuckoos are unmistakable due to their call that echoes their name. Picture: BTO/PA Wire

Cuckoos are unmistakable due to their call that echoes their name. Picture: BTO/PA Wire

April: 'the opening of the year'

Elephants have been found living wild in remote woodland in the Esk Valley of North Yorkshire. Picture: Pixabay.com

Elephants have been found living wild in remote woodland in the Esk Valley of North Yorkshire. Picture: Pixabay.com

Countryman's Diary

Fake news or is it an April Fool?

A tansy beetle in York Museum Gardens. The beetle was successfully reintroduced to a 30km stretch of the River Ouse around York, helped by staff at the gardens

A tansy beetle in York Museum Gardens. The beetle was successfully reintroduced to a 30km stretch of the River Ouse around York, helped by staff at the gardens

Countryman's Diary

Mishap due after Old Lady Day

The wren – one of Britain’s smallest birds but also one of our loudest singers

The wren – one of Britain’s smallest birds but also one of our loudest singers

'X' marks the spot, but of what?

A classic North York Moors scene – sheep grazing amongst the purple heather near Rosedale Abbey – Picture: Martin Oates

A classic North York Moors scene – sheep grazing amongst the purple heather near Rosedale Abbey – Picture: Martin Oates

Countryman's Diary

Puzzle that criss-crosses Moors

A goldfinch sits on a thistle

A goldfinch sits on a thistle

Countryman's Diary

Charming finches are all a-twitter

Church at Ingleby Arncliffe. Picture: STUART BOULTON

Church at Ingleby Arncliffe. Picture: STUART BOULTON

Countryman's Diary

Secret TV history of Arncliffe

The moors above Glaisdale

The moors above Glaisdale

Countryman's Diary

How a remote village expanded

A child shelters under an umbrella. Picture: Daniel Leal-Olivas / PA Wire

A child shelters under an umbrella. Picture: Daniel Leal-Olivas / PA Wire

Countryman's Diary

A brolly rare sight in the Dales

Stanbrook Abbey

Stanbrook Abbey

Countryman's Diary

Happy to get in the Abbey habit

Countryman's Diary

Chance to join RSPB bird watch

Mistle Thrushes could visit your garden if you have berry bushes.

Mistle Thrushes could visit your garden if you have berry bushes.

Countryman's Diary

Fleeting songs of winter months

AT THE TABLE: The Last Supper.

AT THE TABLE: The Last Supper.

Countryman's Diary

Beliefs behind unlucky Fridays

The Globe Theatre production of Twelfth Night, featuring Stephen Fry

The Globe Theatre production of Twelfth Night, featuring Stephen Fry

Countryman's Diary

Festive customs of Twelfth Night

January used to be known as Wolfmonath - the month of the hungry wolf. Picture: CELL PRESS

January used to be known as Wolfmonath - the month of the hungry wolf. Picture: CELL PRESS

Countryman's Diary

The days of the big bad wolves

Our pet hedgehog that came and went as if he was a cat or dog

Our pet hedgehog that came and went as if he was a cat or dog

Countryman's Diary

William's home in our wireless

Rays of sunlight shine through Whitby Abbey – but do its bells still sometimes toll out at sea?

Rays of sunlight shine through Whitby Abbey – but do its bells still sometimes toll out at sea?

Countryman's Diary

The Abbey bells that may still toll

A view of Durham Cathedral from Frank Barrass, of Sherburn Village

A view of Durham Cathedral from Frank Barrass, of Sherburn Village

Countryman's Diary

Be prepared for Stir-Up Sunday

Goathland Station staff C1900

Goathland Station staff C1900

Countryman's Diary

God's Country not big on goats

Tricks on Mischief Night have become more serious. Picture: Pixabay.com

Tricks on Mischief Night have become more serious. Picture: Pixabay.com

Countryman's Diary

Mischief Night was serious stuff

Our ancient ancestors used to light massive bonfires in the belief that they helped the fading sun to gain extra strength to carry it through the winter and the coming new year. Picture: Pixabay.com

Our ancient ancestors used to light massive bonfires in the belief that they helped the fading sun to gain extra strength to carry it through the winter and the coming new year. Picture: Pixabay.com

Countryman's Diary

Tricks and treats from history

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys in Game of Thrones

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys in Game of Thrones

Countryman's Diary

Yarns that still resonate today

In front of an open fire on a cold winter's day

In front of an open fire on a cold winter's day

Countryman's Diary

Logging problems of festive fires

The magnificent gatehouse at Whorlton Castle which features four shields

The magnificent gatehouse at Whorlton Castle which features four shields

Countryman's Diary: Little castles in the region have big stories

Sheep graze amongst the purple heather near Rosedale Abbey. Picture: Martin Oates

Sheep graze amongst the purple heather near Rosedale Abbey. Picture: Martin Oates

Countryman's Diary: Lost in Yorkshire's broad acres

Autumn lets us know it has arrived with some stunning colours. Picture: NORTH NEWS AND PICTURES

Autumn lets us know it has arrived with some stunning colours. Picture: NORTH NEWS AND PICTURES

Autumn lets us know of its arrival

READER'S VIEW: John Carrington, of Sowerby, Thirsk, took this view from the top of Sutton Bank

READER'S VIEW: John Carrington, of Sowerby, Thirsk, took this view from the top of Sutton Bank

The vistas that you can bank on

I would never refer to the famous Sutton Bank, pictured here during the Tour de Yorkshire, as Sutton Hill. Picture: Richard Sellers/PA Wire

I would never refer to the famous Sutton Bank, pictured here during the Tour de Yorkshire, as Sutton Hill. Picture: Richard Sellers/PA Wire

Countryman's Diary

Banking on plenty of confusion

The fishing town of Staithes. Picture: Anthony Chappel-Ross

The fishing town of Staithes. Picture: Anthony Chappel-Ross

Countryman's Diary

Tracing origins of mythical tales

The cuckoo has been the architect of its own demise. Picture: BTO/PA Wire

The cuckoo has been the architect of its own demise. Picture: BTO/PA Wire

Countryman's Diary

Why the cuckoo has killed itself

Gunnerside bottoms. Picture: Andrew Fletcher

Gunnerside bottoms. Picture: Andrew Fletcher

Countryman's Diary

Confusion over moor and dale

The grouse shooting season started on August 12. Picture: Sarah Caledcott

The grouse shooting season started on August 12. Picture: Sarah Caledcott

Countryman's Diary

Charred past of glorious moors

SHADE: Animals at Flamingo Land zoo were being given shade and pools to help them cool off in the heatwave. Picture: Matt Clark

SHADE: Animals at Flamingo Land zoo were being given shade and pools to help them cool off in the heatwave. Picture: Matt Clark

Countryman's Diary

Bizarre names of summer days

READER'S VIEW: Maxine Chaplain, of Sowerby, Thirsk, took this picture of rape fields near Coxwold

READER'S VIEW: Maxine Chaplain, of Sowerby, Thirsk, took this picture of rape fields near Coxwold

Countryman's Diary

In this community, mysteries lie

READER'S VIEW: Afternoon sunlight on Roseberry Topping by Brian Wastell of Fairfield, Stockton, taken on November 5

READER'S VIEW: Afternoon sunlight on Roseberry Topping by Brian Wastell of Fairfield, Stockton, taken on November 5

Countryman's Diary

Busy Devil adds the Topping

Pam Mosedale of Beechwood took this picture of Canada geese and their goslings on the mere in Tatton Park

Pam Mosedale of Beechwood took this picture of Canada geese and their goslings on the mere in Tatton Park

Countryman's Diary

Nature reasserts its primacy

PRIORY FUN: People bask in the sun at Guisborough Priory for the Picnic at the Priory event. Picture: TOM BANKS.

PRIORY FUN: People bask in the sun at Guisborough Priory for the Picnic at the Priory event. Picture: TOM BANKS.

Countryman's Diary

Incredible tales of lost treasures

Falls on the River Ure

Falls on the River Ure

Countryman's Diary

Tales of Yore from beautiful dale

The grey partridge which has suffered an 80 per cent decrease in numbers in the past 40 years

The grey partridge which has suffered an 80 per cent decrease in numbers in the past 40 years

Countryman's Diary

Murder? Siege? All in a name!

A model of the Loch Ness Monster outside a visitor centre in Drumnadrochit

A model of the Loch Ness Monster outside a visitor centre in Drumnadrochit

Countryman's Diary

Enduring mystery of Loch Ness

Oswaldkirk Church – kirk is a common term in the North-East and Scotland

Oswaldkirk Church – kirk is a common term in the North-East and Scotland

Countryman's Diary

In so many words, we’re unique

Castle Howard, where an inland cormorant was annoying an angler

Castle Howard, where an inland cormorant was annoying an angler

Countryman's Diary

Big black birds full of foreboding

A wren – its nest is a miracle of construction

A wren – its nest is a miracle of construction

Countryman's Diary

Gentle giant Ben is an abiding memory of my wartime holiday

Primroses - there is much folklore surrounding these attractive spring flowers

Primroses - there is much folklore surrounding these attractive spring flowers

Countryman's Diary

Getting Dizzy over primroses

Bottles buried under the doorstep were said to keep witches away

Bottles buried under the doorstep were said to keep witches away

Countryman's Diary

Ways to keep the witches away

Scarborough Harbour, with the Italian garden nearby. Picture: Martin Oates

Scarborough Harbour, with the Italian garden nearby. Picture: Martin Oates

Countryman's Diary

What happened to using maps?

Personalised vintage Ordnance Survey map wall paper from www.lovemapson.com

Personalised vintage Ordnance Survey map wall paper from www.lovemapson.com

Countryman's Diary

The story behind Moors maps

READERS' VIEW: Steve Weighell and his wife, Joan, got an amazing view for 20 minutes in early August of a young cuckoo being fed by its adoptive parent - a dunnock - just six yards from their window in Middleton St George, near Darlington.

READERS' VIEW: Steve Weighell and his wife, Joan, got an amazing view for 20 minutes in early August of a young cuckoo being fed by its adoptive parent - a dunnock - just six yards from their window in Middleton St George, near Darlington.

Countryman's Diary

Get closer to nature this spring

Whitby's famous steps were once put up for sale - as an April Fools Day prank

Whitby's famous steps were once put up for sale - as an April Fools Day prank

Countryman's Diary

Pranks for the April memories

Gisborough Hall

Gisborough Hall

Countryman's Diary

Devilish raven attacked cobbler

A quiet day on the cobbles in Bedale on January 18, 1957

A quiet day on the cobbles in Bedale on January 18, 1957

Countryman's Diary

Once the haunt of highwaymen

Mars. Picture courtesy of NASA

Mars. Picture courtesy of NASA

Countryman's Diary

The times they were a-changin'

Nineties movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray made Punxsutawney Phil a global star

Nineties movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray made Punxsutawney Phil a global star

Countryman's Diary

Day helps year spring into life

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