Come spring, if you set foot in any rural area of Britain, you’re sure to hear the exuberant bleating of new lambs and see brightly coloured butterflies fluttering by. And while those usual sights and sounds of this time of year bring much joy, there’s a world of rare wildlife out there that you may never have noticed before.
Whether you’re treating your family to a rural staycation or simply broadening your own horizons, walking just a little further afield can introduce a whole host of fresh sights to your eyes and sounds to your ears, including those rarer species of wildlife.
We’re lucky to enjoy many walking freedoms in this country, thanks largely to the dedicated work of the Ramblers. This special organisation has been fighting for walking rights for over 85 years, and has safeguarded access to thousands of miles of paths and open land up and down the country. Not only that, but thanks to the walk finder on the Ramblers website, you can search for thousands of routes within the wildlife-specific areas mentioned below, to give yourself the best chance of seeing spectacular rare species for yourself.
So, if you’re keen to make your country walks better than ever before, why not join the Ramblers and get unrestricted access to a vast library of walks? Read on to find out about some of Britain’s most fascinating species you could see on your walks, and where you’re most likely to spot them...
While fallow deer may be the most prevalent species in the country, with numbers growing at the moment, sightings of the white variety are far less common. Nevertheless, anyone who’s seen one will know how uniquely striking they are to the eye. You’ll find white fallow deer throughout Britain, particularly in deciduous woodland and thick, low-lying vegetation. Just beware, there are other species of UK deer that occasionally have white coats, including the sika, which has been observed in the Purbeck area of Dorset.
Our riverbanks used to be replete with these wonderful creatures, however they’re now one of the UK’s most endangered mammals. The loss of many natural waterside habitats, as well as the invasion of mink, have sadly seen the population shrink, but due to recent conservation efforts, you might be lucky enough to see one on your next walk. You stand your best chance on riverbanks throughout the Midlands, although they’ve been observed as far south as Hampshire and as far north as Lancashire.
Of course, it’s not just our eyes that get to enjoy the treats that rare wildlife can bring. The nightingale’s sweet song, for example, is the perfect sonic addition to any ramble in the countryside. Migrating to our shores in the spring, this light brown beauty can be found in thick vegetation and coppiced woodland. Listen out for its distinctive call in Essex, Kent, Sussex, Suffolk and Lincolnshire.
You don’t have to be a zoologist to know about the poor native red squirrel’s plight, whose numbers have been decimated by the invasive grey variety. But there are still a few corners of the country where you might stand a chance of spotting one. The 140,000-strong UK population can be found in coniferous and deciduous woodland in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the far north of England.
During the warmer months, the south of England can be a surprisingly fertile breeding ground for some exotic-looking insects, and the Cosnard’s net-winged beetle is one of the rarest of them all. Its distinctive orange-brown wings help it stand out from other species, and you’re most likely to spot it flying in the hot sunshine between May and June on the South Downs, the Forest of Dean and Wye Gorge.
As a member of the Ramblers, for just £3.05 per month, you’ll get unlimited access to the Ramblers’ library of tried and tested walking routes, plus its 50,000 fun and friendly group walks. But that’s far from all there is to the Ramblers. Your membership will help increase access to green spaces, open up more places to walk and boost Britain’s wellbeing one step at a time. After all, there’s plenty to do.
With its members’ support, the Ramblers...
• Helps thousands more people every year broaden their horizons on foot because walking in nature makes us happier and healthier.
• Maintains paths to prevent them being blocked or becoming overgrown, provides advice to walkers, and helps individuals overcome more personal obstacles, like a lack of confidence to explore or knowledge of where they can walk, because the Ramblers is committed to removing all barriers to walking.
• Helps protect walking access rights. As a result of over 85 years of hard work by the Ramblers, we are now free to roam across millions of acres of land, including national parks and national trails.
Find out more about the vital work the Ramblers does and pledge your walking miles in 2022 for the chance to win some amazing prizes.
The Ramblers is generously supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, as part of the lottery’s Climate Challenge initiative. People’s Postcode Lottery manages lotteries on behalf of 20 Postcode Trusts.
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