At one of our many national nature reserves you can get up close and personal with rare species of beetles, spiders and butterflies. Search for rare flowers, mosses and ferns, and spot bats, woodpeckers and even owls. Together our nature reserves represent a total area of around 94,400 hectares and encompass a huge variety of English wildlife and geology. As well as preserving some of our most pristine natural environments, the reserves offer a sublime way of experiencing our natural heritage, from coastal marshes, dunes and cliffs to lowland heaths and bogs. Get your binoculars ready!
There’s something special about being close to a bird of prey; those round watchful eyes on high alert, fixing you with a dominating stare.
Location: Rosliston, Derbyshire
Just a few small snowdrops bring cheer to the colder, shorter days of England’s winter, and seen at Dimminsdale, they’re simply breathtaking.
Location: Staunton Harold, Leicestershire
If you’d like a little history with your sandwiches then take your picnic to Bradgate Park.
Location: Newtown Linford, Leicestershire
Set sail on a narrow boat trip on the historic Droitwich Canals to the River Severn and beyond, the Mid Worcestershire boating ring now offers a perfect weekend getaway.
Location: Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire
Spot red squirrels, adders and bog plants at Derwent Reservoir and Pow Hill Country Park in the Durham Dales.
Location: Durham Dales
Visit Rutland Water's famous wildfowl sanctuary, covering a 1,000 acres of bird hides, mucky nature trails and interactive visitor centres.
Location: Rutland Water, Rutland
Sit back and feel the wind fly through your hair as you speed out to sea on a RIB Request boat trip.
Location: Ramsgate, Kent
The appeal of Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens goes way beyond its remarkable wildlife collection to breeding programmes and exuberant gardens.
Location: Burford, Oxfordshire
The majestic red deer is our largest land mammal: a beautiful creature, from hoof to antler, whose iconic silhouette has captivated us for centuries.
Location: Minsmere, Suffolk
Explore over 660 acres of countryside, and uncover the rare wildlife that inhabit the area all year round.
Location: Hastings, East Sussex
The tranquil waters of the beautiful Attenborough Nature Reserve in Nottingham set the landscape for discovering and watching wildlife at its best.
Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Bempton’s towering chalk cliffs skyrocket to over 100 metres (109 yards) in points, with awe-inspiring views overlooking the coast of East Yorkshire.
Location: Bempton, East Yorkshire
Yorkshire Nature Triangle is well known among local naturalists for its rich fauna and flora but is also a hidden secret for a wider audience.
Location: Bempton, East Riding of Yorkshire
A two-mile walk across the sand from West Kirby, the Dee Estuary is an oasis of wildlife.
Location: Hilbre Island, Merseyside
Visit Farne Islands to see thousands of seabirds and a huge Grey seal colony.
Location: Farne Islands, Northumberland
The largest seabird colony on the west coast of England is at St Bees Head.
Location: St Bees, Cumbria
Looe Island Nature Reserve is a haven for diverse and fascinating wildlife, from silver-washed fritillaries to grey seals.
Location: Looe, Cornwall
Keep your eyes peeled and cameras at the ready for some serious Cumbrian wildlife spotting.
Location: Lake District, Cumbria
This patch of pristine wetland near the south east coast covers a whopping 100 square miles and is packed with wildlife – including the curious ‘laughing frogs’.
Location: Romney Marsh, Kent
When it comes to big game spotting in the Broads National Park, there is no prey more sleek, more rare and more exciting than the otter.
Location: The Broads, Norfolk
See the Red Arrows equivalent for starlings in stunning Somerset countryside.
Location: Somerset
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