Why The UK’s Countryside Is a Fantastic Place To Embrace Nature

According to the latest State of Nature report (2019), the abundance and distribution of UK species have suffered a steady decline since 1970.

This is a damning headline resulting from a net loss of biodiversity thanks to various environmental pressures: intense agricultural activity, rising average temperatures, and the urbanization of green land. 

So, what does all this mean for the UK countryside? Is it still a place where we can embrace wildlife and observe nature in action? Absolutely!

Despite the bad news and concerning trends putting pressure on nature, there is some good news and action in place to lend a helping hand.

This article explores why visiting the British countryside remains among the best ways to embrace nature and provides a few handy tips for spotting wildlife with minimal disturbance to local habits. Let’s get started.

What makes the British countryside a nature hotspot? 

The UK countryside remains a nature hotspot because it’s home to many vital conservation projects.

Managed by several different institutions, from the RSPB to the National Trust, these projects are great examples of how people are working to prevent the worrying decline of natural splendor. 

As noted in the State of Nature report, the nation has a long heritage of preserving unique places.

Today there are fifteen established National Parks in the UK and 98,600 hectares of land reserved for its 225 nature reserves (0.7% of the country’s land surface).

Across locations like these (and beyond), conservation work is helping to aid in nature’s recovery from the intense pressures of the modern world.

Here’s how:

• They are restoring landscapes: connecting nature, and joining wildlife sites, so populations aren’t as fragmented or vulnerable.
• Focusing on species: breeding and nurturing the growth of especially vulnerable species — this has been shown to work by the return of the pine marten to Wales. 

However, available funding and resources constrain the ability to conserve nature. While public funding for conservation projects is in the hundreds of millions, it’s also experiencing a rather sharp decline.

To that end, spending more time out in the countryside and embracing the best of British nature is essential. 

Nature Tips For the UK Countryside

This next section provides tips on the best ways to go nature…