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!
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
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
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
Climb the grassy hill to iconic Penshaw Monument
Roam picturesque parkland, spy flamingos and otters, admire sculptures and climb the secret staircase of this famous monument for panoramic views.
Location: Penshaw and Washington, Tyne and Wear
Journey to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne
A visit to history-rich and beautiful Lindisfarne, cut off twice daily from the rest of the world by fast-moving tides, is an adventure not to miss.
Location: Lindisfarne, Northumberland
See thousands of cute puffins on the Farne Islands
Around 150,000 breeding pairs of seabirds make the Farne Islands their home each summer. Hop on a boat to see and hear them up close!
Location: Farne Islands, Northumberland