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, click here.

Region by region

Recent UK & Ireland Wildlife news

More UK & Ireland Wildlife news

First wild beavers born in Scotland for 400+ years

The first beaver kits to be born in the wild as part of the Scottish Beaver Trial have been seen in Knapdale Forest, Mid-Argyll.

birds/2010_jan/Purple_heron_chick_Peter_Castell_Birdguides

First sighting of purple heron chicks confirm UK wildlife first

It's a sight wildlife lovers have been waiting for - the first purple heron chick ever to be raised successfully in the UK has taken its first flight and is learning to fend for itself. But is this news good or bad as it is further evidence of global warming?

birds/june_2009/golden_eagle_poisoned_rspb

Worst year on record for bird poisoning in Scotland – 2009

2009 marked the highest number of confirmed poisoning incidents discovered in a single year in Scotland in the past two decades, according to an annual report by RSPB Scotland.

Welsh badgers saved as cull declared unlawful

Campaigners celebrated as the Court of Appeal handed down judgment finding the proposed Welsh badger cull to be unlawful on all three grounds they raised on appeal.

Mega rare white-tailed plover turns up at WWT Slimbridge

With only a handful of records in the UK ever - one of which at WWT Caerlaverock, Dumfriesshire in 2007, WWT Slimbridge has just confirmed the sighting of a white-tailed plover on the reserve in Gloucestershire.

Sperm whale sighting off Torbay, South Devon

Observers were surprised to see a large whale very close to the shore off Torbay in South Devon. It was identified as a Sperm whale, the largest of all the toothed whales.

Pine Marten rediscovered in England!

Conservationists are ecstatic at the news that England's rarest mammal, the pine marten, has been found in the Cheviot Hills in Northumberland.

Purple herons breed for the first time in the UK

The first purple herons ever to breed successfully in the UK have hatched their chicks on the RSPB's Dungeness Nature Reserve in Kent. It is not yet known how many chicks have hatched and confirmation will only be possible when the young fledge in a few weeks time.

Four Great bustard chicks hatch in the wild in the UK

One of the most spectacular birds on the planet, the Great Bustard looks set to consolidate its return to the UK with the news that four chicks hatched so far this year and that there are 4 confirmed nests.

Alaotra grebe declared extinct and 12.5% of bird species declared endangered

birds/2010 jan/ireland_eagle_poisonned_allan_mee

Six eagles and nine buzzards amongst twenty one raptors poisoned across Britain & Ireland

A horrific total of 6 eagles, 10 buzzards, 3 red kites, a Peregrine falcon and a sparrowhawk have all been poisoned in recent weeks across Ireland, England and Scotland. And these are just the ones that we know about and have been discovered.

uk/wildlife_june_09/beaver_4th_release_swt

Two more beavers released in Scotland

Two more beavers have been released in Scotland, replacements for the missing beavers from the 2009 release.

Osprey update 2010 - First ospreys arrive back in the UK

The bird thought to be oldest breeding female of its kind ever recorded in the UK returned for the 20th consecutive year to the Loch of the Lowes wildlife reserve, astonishing wildlife experts.

photography/2009_uk_photo_competition/davis_puffin_gull

UK wildlife photography competition 2010

The UK has some fantastic wildlife, and we want you to get out and photograph it. It costs nothing to enter, but there are 6 cameras, wildlife artwork, wildlife photography books and a £500 donation to a UK wildlife charity on offer. Entry is free.

75 starlings die in mystery crash landing

Mystery surrounds the death of 75 starlings which crashed to the ground and died on a single driveway in Somerset.

Huge Fin whale strands in Cornwall

The body of a huge whale has been found on the north coast of Cornwall; The Cornwall Wildlife Trust believes it to be a Fin whale, which had been reported floating close to the shore off Pendeen.

Are Sea eagles coming back to Suffolk? Vote on what you think should happen

In any debate about conservation, it is always important to discount 10% of the arguments at either end of the range, as some people will support all conservation, no matter what the cost or practicalities, and others would complain about spending 5 Euros to save the last elephant. Somewhere in the middle is a rational debate and, usually, the right answer.