Wildlife Conservation Hotspots

England, Wales and Scotland’s best spots for conserving wildlife

 

From the rugged Scottish coasts and rolling hills of Wales to the ancient woodlands of England, the UK is home to various wildlife. However, as the population has grown and cities expanded, some areas have taken more care to preserve wildlife than others, with the UK having hundreds of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas.

Of course, for nature enthusiasts, there’s no better way to explore these protected wildlife habitats than grabbing your walking boots and waterproofs, and heading out to some of the country’s top wildlife conservation hotspots.

So, without further ado, the experts at Millets have delved into a wealth of data to reveal which cities in the UK are the best wildlife conservation hotspots. We’ve looked at tree coverage, the range of wildlife species, wildlife rescues, and more.

Jump to:

The best wildlife conservation hotspots in England

The best wildlife conservation hotspots in Wales

The best wildlife conservation hotspots in Scotland

Amphibian species thriving the most in London

Peterborough is home to the most creepy crawlies

Bird species have flocked to Middlesborough

Fish make the biggest splash in port city Plymouth

Bristol is home to most mammals, including one protected species

York has the most nature and park attractions

Nature and wildlife areas flourishing in Cwmbrân

Animal wildlife rescues have the most presence in Slough

Like-minded nature lovers band together most in Cwmbrân

Special protection areas in the UK

Special areas of conservation

The most sighted protected species in the UK

The least-sighted protected species in the UK

Methodology

The best wildlife conservation hotspots in England

 

Rank	City/Town	Country	Wildlife Conservation Score /10
1	Watford	England	9.29
2	Sheffield	England	9.17
3	Oxford	England	9.13
4	Bristol	England	8.93
5	Warrington	England	8.91
6	Norwich	England	8.83
7	Southampton	England	8.65
7	Ipswich	England	8.65
9	Cambridge	England	8.47
10	Liverpool	England	8.14

 

1)  Watford

Wildlife conservation score: 9.29/10

In first place for England, we have Watford, a town northwest of London, with a score of 9.29 out of 10. Watford ranked top for the number of nature and wildlife areas per 10km2 (two), including Oxhey Woods, home to wildlife such as foxes and its wooden sculptures, as well as Whippendell Woods. One Tripadvisor reviewer said, “This woodland was looking a picture, with its wildflowers and the trees coming into their finest Spring bloom. Plenty of wildlife to be seen and the air full of birdsong.”

It also ranked second for the number of nature groups per 10km2 (1.2), including Climate Action Watford and the Friends of the Earth Watford and Three Rivers branch. These two groups work together closely, campaigning local and national climate issues and running school events to teach children how to impact the environment positively. The town’s air quality score of six was the second best in England; in this instance, the lower the score, the better the air quality. Air quality can significantly impact wildlife, from changes in behavioural patterns such as migration to making animals more susceptible to illness.

2)  Sheffield

Wildlife conservation score: 9.17/10

Next, we head to the South of Yorkshire for second-placed Sheffield, which scored 9.17 out of 10. The city ranked second for the number of amphibian species sightings within a 10-kilometre radius (nine) and the number of insect species sightings within a 10-kilometre radius (5,120). Commonly spotted insects and amphibians in the area include the smooth and great crested newts and the small tortoiseshell butterfly, a species of significant concern due to its rapidly declining numbers.

It then ranked joint-fourth for the number of nature and wildlife areas per 10km2, with 1.6. Among these include the Rivelin Valley Nature Trail. A Tripadvisor reviewer remarked, “The rewards are great. On our walk, we saw two Grey Herons fishing in the brook.” Others reported seeing harlequin ducks and kingfishers. The Mayfield Alpacas Animal Park is also just a 17-minute drive from Sheffield’s city centre.

3)  Oxford

Wildlife conservation score: 9.13/10

Rounding out the top three for England, we have Oxford in the central South, scoring 9.13 out of 10. Oxford ranked joint-third for the number of nature and park attractions (eight) and nature and wildlife areas (1.7) per 10km2. One example is Port Meadow, which runs along the canal and has plenty of wildlife and farm animals, such as horses and cows. You can also fish in the canal with a correct permit. 

There is also the Harcourt Arboretum at the university, which has year-round natural beauty in the form of English bluebells, rhododendrons, and acer trees. It is also just a 15-minute drive from the city centre.

 

The best wildlife conservation hotspots in Wales

Rank	City/Town	Country	Wildlife Conservation Score /10
1	Cardiff	Wales	9.11
2	Barry	Wales	8.09
3	Cwmbrân	Wales	7.91
3	Swansea	Wales	7.91
3	Newport	Wales	7.91
6	Bridgend	Wales	7.45
7	Llanelli	Wales	7.26
8	Neath	Wales	7.07
9	Wrexham	Wales	6.61
10	Merthyr Tydfil	Wales	6.33

 

1)  Cardiff

Wildlife conservation score: 9.11/10

For Wales, the capital city, Cardiff, takes the top spot for wildlife conservation hotspots, scoring 9.11 out of 10. The Welsh capital ranked first for the number of mammal species sightings within a 10-kilometre radius (56), with the most sighted species being the Western European hedgehog, spotted most commonly around May, June, and July. 

It also came top for the number of green spaces within a 1,000-metre radius (six), such as Bute and Roath parks, both of which are accessible by car within 20 minutes of the city centre. It has the best air quality score (eight) in Wales; as previously mentioned, better air quality is generally better for wildlife to thrive and be healthy.

2)  Barry

Wildlife conservation score: 8.09/10

Barry, a town in the Vale of Glamorgan, is Wales's second-best wildlife conservation hotspot, with a score of 8.09 out of 10. The Welsh town ranked top in Wales for the number of wildlife rescue centres within 20 miles, totalling 8. Among those are the Caerphilly Hedgehog Rescue, the Somerset Badger Group, and the Valleys Bat Group, all offering species-specific care in their areas of specialisation.

It ranked third for the number of nature groups per 10km2 of the town (1.3), including the Caerphilly Friends of the Earth group, another group focused on canvassing for local change and positive environmental impact. 

Barry also ranked highly for the number of bird species sighted within a 10-kilometre radius (351), including rare species such as the hawfinch, the lesser spotted woodpecker and nightingales.

3)  Cwmbrân

Wildlife conservation score: 7.91/10

Sharing third place for Wales, we have the town of Cwmbrân, which is in the county of Torfaen in South Wales, with a 7.91 out of 10 score. The town ranked first for the number of nature and park attractions (11) and nature and wildlife areas (5.7) per 10km2. Among these include the Cwmbrân Boating Lake, which is home to ducks and other waterfowl, and the All Creatures Great and Small Animal Sanctuary, who nurture animals back to health before rehoming them. 

Cwmbrân also had the most nature groups (2.8) per 10km2 in Wales, such as the Torfaen Friends of the Earth group, which won the People’s Postcode Lottery Earthmovers Award in 2021 for their environmental activism1.

3)  Swansea

Wildlife conservation score: 7.91/10

Also sharing third place for wildlife conservation hotspots in Wales is Swansea, which lies on the Welsh south coast. The city came out on top in Wales for the number of fish species sightings within a 10-kilometre radius (77), including the protected species twaite shad, which are illegal to remove from a body of water under Section five of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

It also ranked second in a couple of factors, such as the number of insect species sighted within a 10-kilometre radius (4,575), including the large yellow underwing moth and the flame shoulder moth, the two most sighted insect species in Swansea. 

The number of nature and parks attractions (eight) and nature and wildlife areas (1.6) per 10km2 also placed it second in Wales, including the Three Cliffs Bay. One review stated, “You get the valley, stream, stepping stones, castle, cliffs and sea in one walk, along with some nice wildlife depending on the time of year.”

3)  Newport

Wildlife conservation score: 7.91/10

Newport is the final location in third place for wildlife conservation hotspots in Wales, scoring 7.91 out of 10. It ranked top for the number of amphibian species spotted within a 10-kilometre radius, with six, including the alpine newt, one of the UK’s rarest amphibians, with the most sightings during April and May.

Newport then ranked second for the number of fish species sighted within a 10-kilometre radius (74). Some of those species include the European eel and protected species such as the river and sea lamprey, as well as the bullhead, which is the second-most sighted with 21 records in the area. 

The area also has the second most wildlife rescue centres within 20 miles (eight), including Socelex, which tends to species such as bats, voles and foxes, and the Swan Rescue South Wales, which helps larger waterfowl.

 

The best wildlife conservation hotspots in Scotland

Rank	City/Town	Country	Wildlife Conservation Score /10
1	Aberdeen	Scotland	9.24
2	Edinburgh	Scotland	9.06
2	Paisley	Scotland	9.06
4	Dunfermline	Scotland	8.69
5	Glasgow	Scotland	8.59
6	Dundee	Scotland	7.95
7	Livingston	Scotland	7.11
8	Cumbernauld	Scotland	6.09
9	Hamilton	Scotland	6.00
10	East Kilbride	Scotland	5.81

 

1)  Aberdeen

Wildlife conservation score: 9.24/10

In first place is the port city of Aberdeen, which scored 9.24 out of 10. The north-east Scottish city ranked top for the number of amphibia (six) and bird (415) species sighted within a 10-kilometre radius, including the rare great crested newt and the lesser redpoll, whose numbers are declining due to habitat loss.

It also ranked top for the number of nature and parks attractions per 10km2 (seven), including Duthie Park with its Winter Gardens, which controls variables such as temperature to give people gorgeous blooms to look at even during those gloomy winter months that call for fleeces and midlayers.

2)  Edinburgh

Wildlife conservation score: 9.06/10

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is the joint-second wildlife conservation hotspot, scoring 9.06 out of 10. The Scottish capital ranked first for the number of amphibian (six) and fish (29) species sighted within a 10-kilometre radius, including the non-native alpine newt and the European eel.

It also ranked top for the number of parks, public gardens, and playing fields within a 1,000-metre radius (six), such as Arthur’s Seat, one of four hill forts in Edinburgh, situated within Holyrood Park, just a 12-minute drive or 25-minute walk from the city centre.

2)  Paisley

Wildlife conservation score: 9.06/10

For Scotland, the town of Paisley, located in the west central Lowlands, shares second place with Edinburgh, scoring 9.06 out of 10. The town ranked top for the number of fish (29) and mammal (52) species sighted within a 10-kilometre radius. Among those include a basking shark, the second largest living fish and a toothless shark most commonly spotted in June, and the European water vole, one of the UK’s rarest mammals, most commonly seen during May and June.

It also ranked top for the number of wildlife rescue centres within 20 miles (four), including the Tayside Bat Group and the Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Trust, the latter of which tends to badgers, birds, deer, and voles.

 

Amphibian species thriving the most in London

Rank	City/Town	Country	Number of Amphibian Species Sightings
1	London	England	10
2	Sheffield	England	9
3	Colchester	England	8
3	Ipswich	England	8
3	Norwich	England	8
3	Slough	England	8
3	Southend-on-Sea	England	8
3	Watford	England	8
9	Birmingham	England	7
9	Bolton	England	7
9	Brighton & Hove	England	7
9	Bristol	England	7
9	Cambridge	England	7
9	High Wycombe	England	7
9	Leeds	England	7
9	Leicester	England	7
9	Liverpool	England	7
9	Northampton	England	7
9	Plymouth	England	7
9	Southampton	England	7
9	Stoke-on-Trent	England	7
9	Sunderland	England	7
9	Swindon	England	7
9	Warrington	England	7
9	Wolverhampton	England	7

 

London, England - Amphibian species sightings within a 10km radius: 10

The English capital, London, is the UK wildlife conservation hotspot with the most amphibian species sighted. The NBN Atlas records show that 10 different amphibian species have been sighted within a 10-kilometre radius, with the common frog and smooth newt being the two most common. 

The number of sightings could be due to several factors, including the efforts of the London Amphibian and Reptile Group, which is heavily involved in conserving these species' habitats. London is also home to several zoos, such as London Zoo, where these species can be spotted.

 

Peterborough is home to the most creepy crawlies

Rank	City/Town	Country	Number of Insect Species Sightings within a 10km radius
1	Peterborough	England	5,380
2	Sheffield	England	5,120
3	Llanelli	Wales	4,716
4	Swansea	Wales	4,575
5	Cardiff	Wales	4,532
6	Bristol	England	4,520
7	Oxford	England	4,508
8	Leicester	England	4,488
9	Wrexham	Wales	4,375
10	Norwich	England	4,353

 

Peterborough, England - Insect species sightings within a 10km radius: 5,380

In the east of England, Peterborough has the most vast array of insect species sighted within a 10-kilometre radius, with 5,380 species recorded on the NBN Atlas. 

However, for those scared that spiders might be the most common, the three most common insect species are the meadow brown, green-veined white, and peacock butterflies. These species are most commonly spotted during the months of July and August in gardens, parks, woods, and along riverbanks. One location to try in Peterborough would be the Ferry Meadows in Nene Park.

 

Bird species have flocked to Middlesborough

Rank	City/Town	Country	Number of Bird Species Sightings within a 10km radius
1	Middlesbrough	England	446
2	Aberdeen	Scotland	415
3	Sunderland	England	401
4	Liverpool	England	393
5	London	England	381
5	Nottingham	England	381
7	Llanelli	Wales	376
8	Warrington	England	375
8	Cardiff	Wales	375
10	Portsmouth	England	374

 

Middlesbrough, England - Bird species sightings within a 10km radius: 446

Middlesborough is the UK wildlife conservation hotspot with the most bird species sighted within a 10-kilometre radius. According to the NBN Atlas, 446 species sightings have been recorded. Some common species seen are bluetits, starlings and goldfinchs, but there are some rarer birds in this area, including nightingales and willow tits. Willow tits are most commonly sighted in Middlesbrough during January, with 52 recorded sightings and nightingales during May, with 17 recorded sightings.

When trying to spot these two rarer birds, you should look for signs other than the bird itself. For example, willow tits prefer wet-dependent tree species for their nests, such as birch, alder and, of course, willow, so searching in areas where these species grow will increase your chances. 

Nightingales can easily be mistaken for robins by just looking at them, though a pair of binoculars may help you to better see physical distinctions between the two. However, listening for the distinct song of the nightingale should help. The Woodland Trust says to listen for strong rapid gurgles between whistle-like trilling, with pauses and a deep ‘chug chug chug’ phase 3.

Fish make the biggest splash in port city Plymouth

Rank	City/Town	Country	Number of Fish Species Sightings within a 10km radiusth>
1	Plymouth	England	128
2	Southampton	England	116
3	Portsmouth	England	95
4	Brighton and Hove	England	94
5	Sunderland	England	79
6	Swansea	Wales	77
7	Newport	Wales	74
8	Liverpool	England	69
9	Cardiff	Wales	66
10	Southend-on-Sea	England	61

 

Plymouth, England - Fish species sightings within a 10km radius: 128

Plymouth has the highest number of fish sighted within a 10-kilometre radius, with 128 recorded species on the NBN Atlas. Commonly seen species include pollacks, Ballan wrasse, and basking sharks. These species were commonly spotted in the English Channel from many of the city’s marinas, such as Sutton Harbour and Mayflower Marina. The months with the most sightings for these species are June, July, and August.

 

Bristol is home to most mammals, including one protected species

Rank	City/Town	Country	Number of Mammal Species Sightings within a 10km radius
1	Bristol	England	57
2	Cardiff	Wales	56
2	Liverpool	England	56
4	Brighton and Hove	England	55
4	Llanelli	Wales	55
6	Bridgend	Wales	54
7	Ipswich	England	53
7	Oxford	England	53
9	Newport	Wales	52
9	Sheffield	England	52
9	Paisley	Scotland	52
9	Dunfermline	Scotland	52

 

Bristol, England - Mammal species sightings within a 10km radius: 57

Located along the River Avon, we have Bristol, the UK wildlife conservation hotspot with the most mammal species spotted within a 10-kilometre radius. On the NBN Atlas, there have been 57 different species recorded in the area, including roe deer, Eurasian otters and the hazel dormouse, a protected species. 

Roe deer and hazel dormouse are species that can both be spotted in old coppice woodland, scrubland and old hedgerows, the hazel dormouse can also prefer conifer plantations. As for the Eurasian otter, Bristol has the River Avon running straight through it, which the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust help to preserve to keep this habitat sustainable for otters and other species.

 

York has the most nature and park attractions

Rank	City/Town	Country	Number of Nature and Parks Attractions per 10km2
1	York	England	14
2	Cwmbrân	Wales	11
3	Southend-on-Sea	England	9
4	Norwich	England	8
4	Oxford	England	8
4	Wrexham	Wales	8
4	Swansea	Wales	8
8	Peterborough	England	7
8	Cambridge	England	7
8	Plymouth	England	7

 

York, England - Nature and parks attractions per 10km2: 14

Ranking top among the UK’s wildlife conservation hotspots for the most nature and park attractions, we have York, with a total of 14 per 10km2. One such attraction is the York Bird of Prey Centre, where you can see flying demonstrations and have the chance to handle hawks, owls and eagles, which is just 25 minutes from the city centre by car. 

There’s also the Breezy Knees Gardens, which contains more than 10,000 different varieties of flowers, shrubs, and trees, ideal for a wide range of wildlife. Whether the weather calls for shorts or trousers, it is sure to make for a perfect day out for nature lovers. It’s just a 15-minute drive from the city centre.

  

Nature and wildlife areas flourishing in Cwmbrân

Rank	City/Town	Country	Number of Nature and Wildlife Areas per 10km2
1	Cwmbrân	Wales	5.7
2	Norwich	England	2.0
2	Watford	England	2.0
4	Peterborough	England	1.9
5	Livingston	Scotland	1.9
6	Colchester	England	1.7
6	Oxford	England	1.7
6	York	England	1.7
9	Aberdeen	Scotland	1.6
9	Bristol	England	1.6
9	Sheffield	England	1.6
9	Swansea	Wales	1.6

 

Cwmbrân, Wales - Nature and wildlife areas per 10km2: 5.7

Cwmbrân in the south of Wales comes out on top for the most nature and wildlife areas in the UK, with 5.7 per 10km2. One such nature and wildlife area in Cwmbrân is the Henllys Local Nature Reserve, a heavily wooded area home to all sorts of wildlife and plants, graphics of which can be seen near the entry.

 

Animal wildlife rescues have the most presence in Slough

Rank	City/Town	Country	Number of Wildlife Rescue Centres within 20 miles
1	Slough	England	16
2	Bolton	England	15
2	Bradford	England	15
4	Ipswich	England	13
4	Leeds	England	13
4	Leeds	England	13
4	Manchester	England	13
7	High Wycombe	England	12
7	London	England	12
7	Luton	England	12
7	Warrington	England	12
7	Watford	England	12

 

Slough, England - Wildlife rescue centres within 20 miles: 16

Slough, 20 miles west of London, is the UK wildlife conservation hotspot with the highest number of wildlife rescue centres within 20 miles of the location. There are 16 rescues in the area, including the Swan Lifeline, which helps small and large waterfowl, and the Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue, which helps animals such as badgers, bats, birds of prey, and amphibians.

 

Like-minded nature lovers band together most in Cwmbrân

Rank	City/Town	Country	Number of Nature Groups per 10km2
1	Cwmbrân	Wales	2.8
2	Neath	Wales	1.7
3	Bradford	England	1.6
4	Barry	Wales	1.3
5	Edinburgh	Scotland	1.2
6	Milton Keynes	England	1.1
7	Liverpool	England	0.9
7	Merthyr Tydfil	Wales	0.9
7	London	England	0.9
7	Newport	Wales	0.9

 

Cwmbrân, Wales - Nature groups per 10km2: 2.8

Cwmbrân has the highest number of nature groups per 10km2 among UK wildlife conservation hotspots, with 2.8. According to the Friends of the Earth, the Torfaen Friends of the Earth group is located just 1.3 miles from Cwmbrân.

Joining a nature group can help you connect with like-minded people while also getting you outdoors a lot more. Studies suggest that spending just 120 minutes weekly outdoors can boost your health and well-being4. It can also help you learn more about your local wildlife and ecosystems, wildlife identification, well-being and any issues your local area faces, which you can then campaign to make positive change.

 

Special protection areas in the UK - Scotland tops the list

Rank	Local Authority	Number of Special Protected Areas
1	Highlands and Islands	123
2	Eastern Scotland	26
3	West Wales and The Valleys	20
4	Northern Ireland	16
5	East Anglia	14
5	North Eastern Scotland	14
8	Essex	10
8	Hampshire	10
8	Isle of Wight	10
8	West Sussex	10

 

Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are designated areas under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds, to protect the habitats of migratory and threatened bird species.

There are 286 SPAs in the UK in total, with 123 of them attributed to the Scottish Highlands and Islands local authority. However, it is important to note that many SPAs span large areas and can be attributed to multiple local authorities.

Eastern Scotland has the second highest number of SPAs, with 26 of them being attributed to the region, and in third place is the West of Wales and The Valleys local authority area, with 20.

 

Special areas of conservation - the Scottish Highlands and Islands have more than double the second local authority

Rank	Local Authority	Number of Special Areas of Conservation
1	Highlands and Islands	152
2	West Wales and The Valleys	66
3	Northern Ireland	54
4	Eastern Scotland	45
5	East Wales	39
6	South Western Scotland	34
7	Cumbria	31
8	East Anglia	26
9	Dorset	24
9	Somerset	24

Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are designated under the European Union’s Habitats Directive, which protects the habitats of flora and fauna. These include habitats and species that need the most conservation. SACs work in unison with SPAs to form a protective network of sites across the UK.

Since these cover a wider range of species than SPAs, there are far more in the UK, totalling 656. Again, the Scottish Highlands and Islands have the largest amount of SACs attributed to the area, with 152 in total.

The UK local authority with the second-highest number of SACs is West Wales and the Valleys, which has 66 sites within its borders. Northern Ireland is in third place, with 54.

 

The most sighted protected species in the UK

Rank	Species Name	Scientific Name	Number Sighting Records in the UK
1	Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly	Aglais Urticae	1,350,594
2	Western European Hedgehog	Erinaceus europaeus	298,460
3	Eurasian red squirrels	Sciurus vulgaris	188,240
4	Turtle dove	Streptopelia turtur	100,991
5	Stag Beetle	Lucanus cervus	98,375
6	Great crested newt	Triturus cristatus	90,274
7	Water Vole	Arvicola amphibius	66,743
8	Hazel dormouse	Muscardinus avellanarius	54,775
9	Sand Lizard	Lacerta agilis	50,945
10	Natterjack toad	Epidalea calamita	40,413

 

1)  Small tortoiseshell butterfly | Aglais urticae

Number of sighting records in the UK: 1,350,594

The protected species with the most sightings in the UK is the small tortoiseshell butterfly, scientifically known as aglais urticae, with more than 1.3 million recorded sightings. The most common county in which this species is seen is Cheshire in England, with more than 66,000 sightings.

This once-common species tends to hibernate in places like caves, hollow trees or buildings; as such, it is not uncommon to find them in your house hibernating during cold months. 

If they are inside your house, the increase in temperature from the heating, for example, can trick them into waking up. You can, however, safely catch them and place them in a cooler protected area such as a shed or garage. They should not be released outside as this can kill them.

2)  Western European Hedgehog | Erinaceus europaeus

Number of sighting records in the UK: 298,460

In second place for most sighted protected species, we have the Western European hedgehog, with just under 300,000 recorded sightings in the UK. This species can be most commonly found in the UK county of North Hampshire, where 12,488 sightings have been recorded to date.

Hedgehogs are another species that like to hibernate, so if there are some in your garden, for example, providing a nesting space for them is beneficial. This can be done by maintaining wilder areas of your garden or leaving lots of leaf litter on the ground. However, you should take care of common garden hazards that pose a threat to this species, like covering drain holes and avoiding using slug pellets and pesticides.

3)  Eurasian red squirrels | Sciurus vulgaris

Number of sighting records in the UK: 188,240

The third most sighted protected species in the UK is the Eurasian red squirrel, with more than 188,000 sightings recorded on the NBN Atlas. Around 13,930 of those sightings were recorded in the county of Mid Perthshire in Scotland, where this creature is most commonly seen.

One of the largest threats to Eurasian red squirrels is squirrel pox, commonly carried by grey squirrels. As such, one thing you can do is if you have a feeder in your garden, be sure to regularly replace old or half-eaten food and thoroughly clean the feeder.

 

The least-sighted protected species in the UK

 

Rank	Species Name	Scientific Name	Number Sighting Records in the UK
1	Grey long-eared bat	Plecotus austriacus	228
2	Scottish Wildcat	Felis silvestris	2,817
3	Western Barbastelle bat	Barbastella barbastellus	3,312
4	Pine Marten	Martes martes	10,862
5	Capercaillie	Tetrao urogallus	23,183
6	Beaver	Castor fiber	39,886
7	Natterjack toad	Epidalea calamita	40,413
8	Sand Lizard	Lacerta agilis	50,945
9	Hazel dormouse	Muscardinus avellanarius	54,775
10	Water vole	Arvicola amphibius	66,743

 

1)  Grey long-eared bat | Plecotus austriacus

Number of sighting records in the UK: 228

In first place for the least-seen protected species in the UK is the grey long-eared bat, also known as Plecotus austriacus, with just 228 sighting records. The Isle of Wight is the county where this bat has been sighted the most, with 99 records.

There are a few ways that you can help grey long-eared bats, such as making your garden a more friendly environment for them. This can be done by using lights in your garden that are less bright and intense, avoiding using pesticides in your garden and planting flowers that bloom at night, such as honeysuckle. You should also keep any cats you might own indoors during the first hour after sunset, as this is when bats typically come out of their roosts.

2)  Scottish wildcat | Felis silvestris

Number of sighting records in the UK: 2,817

In second place, we have the Scottish wildcat, which has just 2,817 sighting records in the UK. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but the county with the most sightings of this species is North Aberdeenshire in Scotland, with 673 sightings.

One of the best ways to contribute to the conservation of Scottish wildcats is by reporting any sightings. This can help monitor their numbers and presence. Another major danger for wildcats is being hit by speeding vehicles, even in their rural habitats, so driving safely in these areas is even more crucial.

3)  Western Barbastelle bat | Barbastella barbastellus

Number of sighting records in the UK: 3,312

Rounding out the least sighted protected species in the UK is the Western barbastelle bat, which has 3,312 sighting records. For those who might want to catch a glimpse of this species, you might try the county of East Norfolk, which has the most sightings with 501 records.

If you have any hollowed-out old trees in your garden or area, you should advocate for their preservation, as these can often be used by the western barbastelle bar as a roost. Similar to the grey long-eared bat, you should also avoid light pollution and the use of pesticides, as one of their main food sources is insects.

 

Calum Jones, expert at Millets comments:

“Wildlife plays a critical role in maintaining the balance in our environment and ecosystems. As such, preserving it wherever possible is paramount. More people getting actively involved is vital. Joining your local conservation group, wildlife trust, or other groups where you can participate in habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring, clearing up events, and learning more about your local environment can be hugely beneficial on a local level.

“From pollinators like bees and butterflies that help grow food and plants, to predators that control pest populations, every species contributes to the health of our ecosystem and environment. Sadly, habitat loss and environmental changes have pushed many species towards being endangered, making conservation efforts more important than ever.

“There are some simple, but effective ways that you can help your local wildlife, such as planting wildflowers in your garden or in green spaces where it is permitted to do so. This can provide vital food and shelter for various species. Even providing a clean water source in your garden, which you should change regularly to stop it from becoming stagnant can help, as this provides species with clean drinking water. You can also implement bird feeders and make sure they are stocked during colder months. You should clean your bird feeders regularly to stop any diseases being spread. These small and simple actions can make such a massive difference to your local wildlife and their preservation.”

 

Methodology

Using The Geographist, we took the 43 most populous cities and towns in England and the top 10 in Wales and Scotland.

Using Forestry Maps, we recorded the average percentage of canopy coverage for each location on 14/08/2024.

Using the NBN Atlas, we sourced:

The total number of amphibian sightings for each location, searching the name of each town and city.

The total number of fish sightings for each location, searching the name of each town and city.

The total number of bird sightings for each location, searching the name of each town and city.

Total number of insect sightings for each location, searching the name of each town and city.

Total number of mammal sightings for each location, searching the name of each town and city.

For each factor we set the filter to a 10km radius. All data from the NBN Atlas was recorded on 14/08/2024.

Using Tripadvisor we accessed the “Things to do” page for each location, which we then filtered to “Nature & Parks” to record the number for each location. We then filtered further to “Nature and Wildlife Areas” and recorded the number for each location. Lastly, we used City Population to take the area size of each location to normalise the number of Nature & Parks and Nature and Wildlife Areas per km2 on 15/08/2024.

Using the ONS Access to public parks and playing fields, Great Britain, April 2020 edition of this dataset dataset, the most recent data available, we looked at the “LAD Parks and Playing Fields” tab to get the number of parks, public gardens, or playing fields within a 1,000-metre radius.

Using The Wildlife Rescue Directory, we recorded the number of wildlife rescues within a 20-mile radius of each location. We did not count any rescues indicated to be closed or at total capacity when recording the data. This data was collected on 16/08/2024.

Using IQAir, we recorded the average air quality for each location as an Air Quality Index score on 15/08/2024.

Using Friends of the Earth, we recorded the number of nature groups people can join in each location. This data was collected on 15/08/2024.

We combined these factors into three indexes for England, Wales, and Scotland, allocating each location in each index a normalised score out of 10 based on its performance for each factor before calculating each location’s overall score.

We used the Woodland Trust’s Wood Wise, Earth.org’s 7 of the Most Endangered Species in the UK in 2023, and Millets’ 8 Rare Wildlife Species in the UK and Where to Spot Them to build a list of endangered and protected species in the UK. We then used NBN Atlas to record the total number of sighting records for each species to reveal the most and least sighted protected and endangered species in the UK. We also noted which Watsonian county they are commonly found in. This data was collected on 16/08/2024.

Using the JNCC’s UK National Site Network (SAC and SPA): site summary details spreadsheet, we revealed which UK local authorities have the most Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation. This data is accurate as of 31/10/2024.

References: 

https://foe.cymru/two-friends-earth-groups-win-award

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-48736557

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2022/04/woods-to-hear-nightingales/#:~:text=Listen%20for%20strong%2C%20rapid%20gurgles,also%20characteristic%20of%20nightingale%20song.&text=Your%20browser%20does%20not%20support%20the%20audio%20element.&text=Did%20you%20know%3F

https://www.forestholidays.co.uk/30-statistics-mental-health-benefits-of-outdoors/