England’s Wildlife

British wildlife animals

Britain isn’t the first place on travellers’ minds when thinking of wildlife, especially compared to other European countries. However, that doesn’t mean there’s no wildlife beauty to appreciate! 

The oceanic climate of England is what creates a rich and perfect environment for small and grazing animals, as it doesn’t become extremely hot or cold. The annual rainfall keeps their charming countrysides and nature lusciously green for everyone to enjoy. Compared to its neighbouring countries, England’s landscapes are diverse, has lower land levels and a slightly warmer climate. This is what makes England’s wildlife more diverse than people think!

When you go camping in the incredibly green and peaceful nature of this country, wildlife watching is most certainly recommended. Whether you're in a forest or by the coast, your wildlife watching adventures will differ, but no matter what you will certainly spot fascinating animals. For your next holiday or weekend getaway, here are unique types of deer, birds and aquatic animals you can spot. However, the list goes on, and we encourage you to explore all the types of animals you want to see! In the end, there’ll be a list of recommended campspaces to visit for a lovely wildlife spotting trip!

Deer

Deer are peaceful and quiet creatures that can be found in various ecosystems, but can mostly where they can graze and where there are trees and various nuts and fruits to eat. If you want to take it a step further, travel in autumn when the leaves are golden. You can then capture the most incredible pictures of these gentle animals in the wild. 

Red deer

One of the largest deer species, the red deer are found in the open hills and moors of Northern England and in woodlands. Their horns make them majestic, but it’s also very important to keep a safe distance, as they can be dangerous to encounter. Especially males in the autumn during the rutting season. Go with a guide, or simply bring binoculars to admire them from afar. 

Roe deer

Found in mostly Southern England and woodland areas, they also like to graze in fields and farmlands. So farm camping can be a good idea if you want to spot this species! It’s fur changes depending on the season, but they all have white chins and rump. Red and roe deer are the only British deer that are truly indigenous, so they are a must-see to admire at least once in your life. 

Fallow deer

The fallow deer can be found in woodlands, parklands and grasslands, but many are kept in parks from hunting. For example, Knole Park is one of the few deer parks in England where you can admire this spotted deer. With a relatively long tail and black stripe running along it, this species loves to be in areas where they are densely covered and are very quiet. Searching for fallow can be a peaceful activity.

Birds

There are hundreds of different bird species to spot in England, including many common types. If you like to go birdwatching but not sure how, we have also created a birdwatching guide for you! Spotting birds is very rewarding, as they can easily fly away and are harder to follow. Here are three types of birds you should spot on your next trip.

Starling

Starlings are talkative and loud, covered in small bright spots that look like stars. They can be found in Southern England in upland areas and moorland. They are one of Britain’s most common garden birds, and in the winter they can be found in plantations and reed beds. Easy to spot year round, Starlings are very intelligent as they can mimic noises of other animals and man made machines as well as learn how to talk!

Owls 

A common owl breed in England is the short-eared owl that can be found in Northern England. We recommend going winter camping to spot them as they live in the wetlands and coastal habitats. It is also possible to spot them in open fields and farmlands. So prepare for a beautiful winter farm camping experience! There’s so much to observe and learn about these intelligent birds of prey. 

Atlantic puffin

The Atlantic puffin are surprisingly small birds that are about 20cm tall and weigh half a kilogram. The seabirds are also known as the sea parrots for their distinctive colours. They can be found in the thousands in the spring and summer during mating season on the coast and North Atlantic Ocean. If you have the chance, these birds are incredible to observe!

Aquatic animals

England is not only mostly surrounded by water, but has rivers and which means there’s so many destinations for you to go aquatic animal spotting! Whether it’s saltwater or freshwater animals, there’s always something to observe. Snorkelling, fish and releasing, or kayaking, you can make your aquatic wildlife spotting adventure very active by visiting these animals’ environment yourself!

Seals 

The harbour and grey seal are the only two types of seals found in UK waters, otherwise other species are very rare to find. You can go for coastal hikes or sea kayaking to observe these animals at a safe distance. They can be found onshore in autumn during breeding season. The two types can be distinguished as the common seal has V-shaped nostrils and vary in colour: generally they are grey with dark spots but can also be blonde to black.

Minke whales

While rare, you can spot minke whales in near-shore waters in the Southern North Sea and English Channel. They feed on crustaceans, plankton, and small schooling fish and are fascinating to watch in action when hunting. They weigh over 5,000 kilograms while being the smallest “great whale”. From the coastline or on a boat, watch these solid animals scout for fish.

Fish 

There are over 300 types of fish in the British Isle, so where do you start? From more common fish that you can fish, in lakes, rivers or the shallow parts of the sea to rare species in the deep waters, you can choose to spot fish based on location! Go lake camping, river camping, or beach camping!  From salmon or cod to sunfish and opahs, enjoy a fishing or boat trip when spotting these types!

Campspaces to visit where you can go wildlife spotting 

What is a better way to go wildlife spotting than to go private camping at designated locations! The campspaces below are where you can enjoy a relaxing and exciting trip. 

1. At Jane’s cottage camping, there are various opportunities to appreciate nature while sleeping in your coxy tent for the night!

2. At Claire-Louise’s wild camping campspace, you can choose to walk in different  fields that offer peace and tranquillity, perfect for wildlife watching!

3. At Suki’s green group glamping escape, you can go hiking in the forest spotting birds!

Now that you know that England has so many incredible animals to spot, you’ll have to go on a campspace adventure! Book one now, bring your camera, and share your experience with your friends!