Wildlife and Nature Reserves
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!
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Be at one with birds of prey at Rosliston Forestry Centre
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
Small pleasures come free at Dimminsdale Nature Reserve
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
Lunch with the deer at Bradgate Park
If you’d like a little history with your sandwiches then take your picnic to Bradgate Park.
Location: Newtown Linford, Leicestershire
Encounter wildlife on the UK's first boating ring
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
Discover wildlife and the history of Derwent Reservoir
Spot red squirrels, adders and bog plants at Derwent Reservoir and Pow Hill Country Park in the Durham Dales.
Location: Durham Dales
Spy on endangered wildfowl at Rutland Water Nature Reserve
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
Take a wind-whipped voyage of discovery with RIB Request
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
Family fun at Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens
The appeal of Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens goes way beyond its remarkable wildlife collection to breeding programmes and exuberant gardens.
Location: Burford, Oxfordshire
Get close to the deer at the Red Deer rut
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
Go wildlife spotting at Hastings Country Park
Explore over 660 acres of countryside, and uncover the rare wildlife that inhabit the area all year round.
Location: Hastings, East Sussex
Get back to nature at Attenborough Nature Reserve
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
Take in magnificent views from Bempton Cliffs
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
Get up close with the puffins at Yorkshire Nature Triangle
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
Dee Estuary to Hilbre Island
A two-mile walk across the sand from West Kirby, the Dee Estuary is an oasis of wildlife.
Location: Hilbre Island, Merseyside
Go seal and puffin spotting on the Farne Islands
Visit Farne Islands to see thousands of seabirds and a huge Grey seal colony.
Location: Farne Islands, Northumberland
Bird watching in St Bees
The largest seabird colony on the west coast of England is at St Bees Head.
Location: St Bees, Cumbria
Take a visit to Looe Island
Looe Island Nature Reserve is a haven for diverse and fascinating wildlife, from silver-washed fritillaries to grey seals.
Location: Looe, Cornwall
Take a walk with the wildlife in the Lake District
Keep your eyes peeled and cameras at the ready for some serious Cumbrian wildlife spotting.
Location: Lake District, Cumbria
Explore Romney Marsh
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
Go otter spotting in Norfolk
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 nature come to life on the Somerset Levels
See the Red Arrows equivalent for starlings in stunning Somerset countryside.
Location: Somerset
