With rolling hills and ‘chocolate box’ homes, the British countryside is often idealised. Yet alongside the numerous benefits of living beyond towns and cities, there are many drawbacks. Canvas8 spoke with Michael Woods, editor of The Journal of Rural Studies, to shed light on rural realities.

Has social media killed the art of conversation for teens? Not according to author, social media expert and youth researcher danah boyd - who says it's "nothing more than a release valve to changes that have happened in the real world." We caught up with her to learn more.

Urban populations may be growing, but with an abundance of green space, fresh air and peace and quiet, there are still plenty of reasons to live outside of the city. Canvas8 sat down with 20 Britons to find out exactly what they love about their villages, small towns and suburbs.

Just 19% of Brits are planning on packing their suitcases and heading abroad for two weeks in 2015, yet almost half have booked four short trips scattered throughout the year. Why are people ditching the two-week trip of sun, sea and sand in favour of staycations and city breaks?