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

Golden eagle poisoned in Ireland

There has been outrage at the poisoning of a golden eagle in Ireland; The bird was poisoned with the outlawed chemical, Carbofuran.

Feral cats kill 480 million birds in US every year - Responsible for 33 extinctions

Feral cats in the USA are devastating wildlife and costing the economy as much as $17 billion.

Sea eagle numbers reach new levels in Scotland

The Scottish population passed the 50 breeding pairs milestone and produced more young per pair than in any other year since their reintroduction 35 years ago.

Winners of Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year announced

The much coveted title of Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year was awarded to Hungarian photographer Bence Máté from Pusztaszer for his image A marvel of ants, a simple shot that captures the complexity of the behaviour of leaf-cutter ants in the Costa Rican rainforest.

Severn Barrage abandoned

A barrage like the one proposed between Cardiff and Weston-super-Mare would not only destroy huge areas of estuary marsh and mudflats used by 69,000 birds each winter and block the migration routes of countless fish, but, as confirmed by this report, it would dramatically increase risk of flooding to residential properties.

21 Cranes released onto the Somerset Levels

So, the day in question finally arrived and it was time to release the cranes. Although it was a bit more blustery than we might have liked, we decided that, because of the nature of the release site and the bird's clear attachment to their grey suited parents and release site, things would be ok.

Birdcrime still on the rise in the UK – 384 reported incidents in 2009

2009 was another shocking year for the persecution of birds of prey with incidents of shooting, trapping and poisoning, according to the RSPB's 20th annual Birdcrime report.

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.

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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?

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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

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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.

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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.

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 »