A guide to the wildlife and nature reserves of the UK.
Wildlife and bird watching in the UK
You don't need to go far to see some great wildlife, there is some near you. There are very well known sites across the UK, National Parks, National nature reserves, RSPB reserves and WWT (Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust) reserves, but there are many other great wildlife spots all over the place. Every county has a wildlife trust that will run a series of local reserves, county councils have their own nature reserves and there are plenty of other places where there is ample wildlife.
We will point you in the direction of all the best sites in any given area, though we have no doubt that there are plenty we don't know about (please let us know by emailing us about anywhere that you can recommend).
For information and recommendations on whale and dolphin watching in the UK.
Read about Damselflies and Dragonflies in the UK.
Region by region
Recent UK & Ireland Wildlife news
- First osprey chicks appearing across the country
- Several sightings of dolphins off the Isle of Man – Are Bottlenose dolphins moving north?
- Osprey egg snatch thwarted on Threave Estate
- Sixty per cent of UK species in decline, groundbreaking study finds
- Vote now to help prevent rhino poaching
- Defra statistics show bTB soared after cattle imports
- New Black grouse lek found in the Ochil Hills
- Harlequin ladybirds carry disease fatal to other ladybirds
- 24 hour guard for western Britain's first crane egg in four centuries
- 100 square miles of Yorkshire's precious peatlands have been restored
- Late show for rare spring butterflies
- HS2 phase 1: 33 ancient woods condemned?
- Former owner of National Birds of Prey Centre charged with selling birds illegally
- Shipping organisations join wildlife charities to call for controls on PIBs - Seabird killing glue
- Geese and swan shot in North Yorkshire
More UK & Ireland Wildlife news
- Golden eagle caught on camera trap in the Trossachs
- Leucistic chaffinch near Balmoral
- Rivers much healthier when fringed by trees
- House martin survey
- Look out for deer on Scotland’s roads in May
- Scottish gamekeeper fined for illegal snaring
- Amazing week at Cors Dyfi osprey project
- Grey seal strands near Beachy Head
- Scottish nature photography competition
- Bug and insect photography competition
- Plantlife launches a campaign to save Britain's last remaining meadows
- Dead buzzard found with its beak tied with twine
- Aquatic invasive species threat to UK rivers
- Largest pod of Scottish sperm whales for nearly 20 years
- Nest construction linked to reproductive failure in a changing climate
First osprey chicks appearing across the countryOsprey chicks have been appearing across the UK in the last week, and, amazingly, more osprey eggs too. We think the first chicks to hatch were, as usual, in north Wales, at the Glaslyn Osprey project. Amazingly, just a few miles down the road, the Cors Dyfi ospreys have laid their first egg of the season and it's one of the latest eggs ever laid by an osprey in the UK.
Read more »
Sixty per cent of UK species in decline, groundbreaking study findsScientists working side-by-side from 25 wildlife organisations have compiled a stock take of our native species - the first of its kind in the UK. The report reveals that 60% of the species studied have declined over recent decades. More than one in ten of all the species assessed are under threat of disappearing from our shores altogether.
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Largest pod of Scottish sperm whales for nearly 20 years A pod of 14 sperm whales was spotted off North Berwick last week; the whales were thought to be heading towards Fife. This is the largest group ever seen in the North Sea and one of the largest pods ever seen off the UK coast - according to marine research and conservation charity Sea Watch Foundation.
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Surprise - Beavers fell trees near the water's edge - A study of beavers introduced into the wild in Scotland that will cost nearly £2 million has discovered that beavers mostly effect trees near the water's edge, with 500 metres of their lodge.
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Remarkable Osprey, 'Lady', returns to Scotland for 23rd year - Ospreys updateA sure sign of spring (ignoring the weather) is when ospreys return to the UK after their winter break in the warmer climes of West Africa. The first ospreys have foolishly returned a few days earlier than last year, to be greeted by rain, fog and even snow.
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Bearded seal on ShetlandFollowing the recent sighting of a walrus on the Orkney Islands a few weeks ago, a bearded seal, usually only found in the Arctic, has appeared on Shetland.
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Ospreys are back in the UKA sure sign of spring (ignoring the weather) is when ospreys return to the UK after their winter break in the warmer climes of West Africa. The first ospreys have foolishly returned a few days earlier than last year, to be greeted by rain, fog and even snow.
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Walrus in ScotlandOn Sunday March 3rd, a walrus was spotted near the North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory in the Orkney Islands, causing quite a stir. The walrus appears to be a young male, and is quite possibly the same animal that was seen in the Faroe Islands recently.
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A pod of five sperm whales sighted inshore off North West ScotlandAn extraordinary winter sighting of five Sperm whales off the coast of North West Scotland this week could be a reflection of climate change and warming sea temperatures, says a leading marine scientist.
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Exposure to pesticides can kill frogsPesticides, fully authorised by the relevant authorities, and used in recommended amounts can lead to mortality rates of up to 100 percent on amphibians according to a new study in Germany.
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New research reveals that more than 10% of Welsh livestock farmers have killed badgers illegallyThe research has shown that more than 10% of livestock farmers in Wales have illegally killed badgers in the 12 months preceding the study.
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Rare and spectacular spider find in 150 year-old tombs in London! A large, rare spider has been recorded for the first time in London - deep in tombs at Highgate Cemetery.
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Britain's only resident orca pod – No breeding for 20 yearsThe conservation status of the group is thought to be critical since no live calves have been sighted since research began almost two decades ago.
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150 beavers found living in Scotland 'unofficially'A study, run by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), has confirmed that approximately 146 beavers are presently living in the wild in rivers in Tayside. The beavers in Tayside have been in the area since at least 2006, and originate either from escapes or deliberate releases from private collections.
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Leucistic robin has 'Santa beard'This remarkable bird has been reported to the British Trust for Ornithology's (BTO) Abnormal Plumage Survey. The timely ‘Santa Robin', which was seen by Ian Wilson in Derbyshire, is a leucistic bird.
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44 million birds have disappeared from UK since 1966, including an average of 50 house sparrows every hour!Since 1966, the UK has lost breeding birds from our countryside at an average rate of a nesting pair every minute, say a group of conservation organisations in a new report. These shocking statistics are contained in the State of the UK's Birds 2012 report that charts the ups and downs of our bird populations over the last few decades.
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Pine Marten found in Wales – the first in 40 years!A road casualty pine marten has been found near Newtown in Powys - the first known carcass in Wales since 1971. ‘The significance of this find cannot be overstated,' said Natalie Buttriss, Chief Executive with The Vincent Wildlife Trust. ‘It adds to the body of evidence supporting the long-held view of mammal experts that this attractive tree-dwelling animal does exist in Wales, but in such low numbers that very few people ever see one.'
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Painted lady migration secrets unveiled - 9000 miles to Africa and backOne of the longest standing mysteries of migration has finally been solved after scientists discovered where the UK's Painted Lady butterfly population goes each autumn.
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Golden eagle shot in ScotlandExamination by vets showed shotgun pellets had caused injuries to the tail muscles and one wing. The bird also had extensive feather damage, suggesting it had been floundering on the ground for some time and had not been able to feed.
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Outrage after a Golden eagle is dumped by lay-by and left to die lingering deathA golden eagle, that had been fitted with a satellite tag, has been found dead near a lay-by in Scotland. The eagle had two broken legs, probably from a spring loaded trap, and data from the satellite tag appears to show that the eagle was still alive for 3-4 days after being dumped by the side of a road.
Read more »
Top wildlife and bird watching in the South East
GARDENING FOR WILDLIFE
Lorraine Kelly launches the 'Wild about gardens' campaign in conjunction with the Royal Horticultural Society and the UK Wildlife Trusts. More.
Plants recommended for a wildlife garden
The RSPB and RHS have got together to create a list of plants recommended for wildlife gardening.See the full list.
The Book of Shells
We've all picked up a shell or two on the beach, but outside the very most common ones, we have no idea what we are handling. The glorious 652 page book will be able to answer that question for you, no matter where in the world you are.Read full review »
Top recommendations for wildlife watching activities in the UK.
- Five of the best seal-watching spots in Britain
- Click here to see the ten best National Trust butterfly sites.
- Where to see glow worms in the UK.
- Watch the deer rut this autumn with the National Trust.
- Best places to watch whales in the UK.
- National Trust Coastal Wildlife Walks.
- A Year of Wildlife Walks with the National Trust.
- National Trust's top wildlife walks.
Chris Packham's thoughts
Latest competitions
- UK wildlife photography competition.
- Enter the latest Wildlife Extra competition. Click here
British Moth ID
British Moths and Butterflies - A photographic guide
The book covers 1420 species of moth, 850 macros and 500 micros, as well as 314 caterpillars, pupae and eggs and 74 butterflies.Read full review »
Why is Herefordshire ignored by national conservation bodies? RSPB, we need you.
There are no RSPB reserves, no WWT reserves, and no National Parks. To my surprise, I have discovered that there are 3 National Nature Reserves in Herefordshire, covering just 200 hectares between them, but 2 of them are permanently closed to the public.
Why is Herefordshire ignored by national conservation bodies? RSPB, we need you.
Articles about the wildlife of the UK
- The best seal-watching spots in Britain
- Where to see the deer rut
- The Bottlenose dolphins of Scotland's west coast
- A visit to the Red kites of Gigrin Farm, near Rhyader in Wales
Where to Watch Birds in Britain - Second edition
The familiar format contains 34 new sites, giving a total of 454, now including 5 sites on the Isle of Wight. Each site now has a grid reference to aid those of you who are GPS dependent, and there is also a list of 100 birds you might want to see and the best places to see them.Read full review »
Great British Marine Animals - 3rd Edition
Many people think of the waters around Great Britain as cold, grey and fairly lifeless. This book will put you right (though noone can argue about the water temperature).Read full review »
Britain's butterflies
Comprehensive photo field guide to the butterflies of Britain.
Click Britain's Butterflies to find out more.
Butterflies
This isn't just a guide to British butterflies, it is a lot more. Matthew Oates is the National Trust's, and one of Britain's, leading experts. He fell in love with butterflies, and particularly the purple emperor, at an early age, and has been following them all around Britain ever since.
Highly recommended.
Read full review »
Garden wildlife photos
Having taken 2-3 photos, I walked back towards the office, but just before I reached the door, I notice something buzzing around in front of the flowers. The buzz was actually the hum of the very distinctive Hummingbird Hawkmoth, the first we have seen here.
A top 10 minutes.
Studying butterflies & moths
As the weather (eventually) warms up in spring, and the butterflies start to appear, how do we get youngsters more interested in the wildlife around us?Read full review »
Where to see glow worms in the UK
Once far more widespread than they are today, glow-worms have cast a spell over humans for centuries. Shakespeare mentions them in Hamlet and their soft glow on mid-summer nights must have seemed like a scene from a magical world.
England nature
Read about the nature of England, and see a guide to nature reserves in England.
Click here to see more about English Nature
