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Join today<\/a><\/p>\n \n Already a member? Standing on the sea wall in Lymington in Hampshire, I watched a large white bird fly low overhead. Its head looked too long, like a child\u2019s drawing of a bird, with a spatula where the bill should be. \u201cSpoonbill!\u201d I shouted, pointing. Generally, pointing and shouting are frowned upon when wildlife watching<\/a>, but I was excited for good reason. Spoonbills have been absent from the UK<\/a> for around 360 years and are now staging a comeback. And they\u2019re not the only ones.<\/p>\n Bison graze in Kent, beavers<\/a> paddle in London, and cranes fish in Somerset. This is not the UK in 1600, before habitat destruction and hunting drove many species to extinction; this is 2026, and conservationists are starting to turn the tide.<\/p>\n From reintroducing lost species to translocations (creating new populations from existing ones), projects across the UK are working to return many species, including some keystone species that help shape our ecosystems and even combat climate change. <\/p>\n Here\u2019s how to experience it for yourself with the family this half term.<\/p>\n Read more: The best holidays for budding birdwatchers<\/a><\/p>\n 1. Beavers in Ealing, London<\/p>\n I\u2019m hot on the trail of a beaver. Beside the river are felled trees and gnawed stumps, all the signs I\u2019m looking for. But this isn\u2019t the wilds of Scotland; it is Ealing, an eight-minute walk from Greenford station. Beavers have been reintroduced across the UK, but the Ealing Beaver Project<\/a> is by far the most accessible for little legs. These nocturnal rodents are hard to spot, so visit early in the morning or late evening from May to September for the best chance. \u015eeniz Mustafa, Urban Beaver Officer, recommends joining a regular event or using the self-guided tours in the Voicemap app.<\/p>\n 2. Cranes, Norfolk Wildlife Trust Hickling Broad, Norfolk<\/p>\n Cranes don\u2019t look like they belong in the UK. Impossibly tall with a beautiful red flash on their heads, they would appear more at home in Japanese prints. But here they are, gathered together in Norfolk in their winter roost as the sun slowly sets. Like the spoonbill, they were driven out some 400 years ago by wetland drainage and hunting pressure. In recent years, as some birds started to migrate here again, conservationists have helped them breed, even donning hilarious crane costumes and acting as surrogate parents for chicks. Brave the chilly weather (bribe the kids with a hot chocolate) and see them at Norfolk Wildlife Trust Hickling Broad<\/a> or in Somerset.<\/p>\n 3. Pine martens, Rothiemurchus Estate, Scotland<\/p>\n If you\u2019re passionate about wildlife, nothing beats a visit to the Cairngorms National Park. Emerging from my tent on a chilly September morning, awoken just after dawn by tenacious Red Grouse, is probably one of the few times I\u2019ve not begrudged an early wake-up call. But I missed one species on my visit: the pine marten. Once common, the UK\u2019s rarest mustelid is now largely confined to the north. A trip to Rothiemurchus Estate<\/a> is a great way to see them. Explore the estate by pony or quad bike to make it an action-packed family holiday.<\/a> <\/p>\n Read more: What\u2019s on for October half-term 2026 \u2013 Halloween events, family days out and more<\/a><\/p>\n 4. White-tailed eagles, Hebrides<\/p>\n One of the most irritating things a seasoned wildlife watcher can say about species ID is, \u201cYou\u2019ll know when you see it\u201d, but with white-tailed eagles (or sea eagles), they have a point. Nicknamed the \u201cflying barn door\u201d, these birds are massive. Spearheaded by the legendary Roy Dennis, a project brought white-tailed eagles were back to the UK in the 1970s. Today you can see them in Scotland and the north of England, and recent projects have also brought them down south. The Hebrides is one of the best places to see them, and boat trips from Portree on the Isle of Skye are ideal for budding photographers, who can get a real money shot from the water.<\/p>\n 5. Bison, West Blean and Thornden Woods, Kent<\/p>\n Stepping carefully through a hushed woodland and watching a herd of bison graze the forest margins, you feel as though you\u2019ve travelled back in time. This is Wildwood in Kent<\/a>, a site where bison have been brought back to the UK after about 12,000 years. \u201cAlthough this is ancient woodland, significant areas were historically clear-felled and planted for timber production. The aim is to encourage a more varied, dynamic woodland,\u201d explains Donovan Wright, bison and rewilding ranger at Wildwood Trust. \u201cWithin hours of being released, the bisons\u2019 everyday behaviour was creating a variety of habitats that other species can use.\u201d From 17 October to 1 November, up to two children under 18 can visit Wildwood for free, along with two full-price paying adults.<\/p>\n 6. Red squirrels, The Garlic Farm, Isle of Wight<\/p>\n If you\u2019d rather have a winter wildlife experience where you can sit inside with a cup of coffee and access baby-changing facilities, this one is for you. Settle into the cafe, enjoy the seasonal fare, and watch a British species perform outside: the red squirrel. Though never lost from our isles, red squirrels<\/a> have been pushed to the brink largely by competition with greys. A few pockets remain, and the dedicated feeders at The Garlic Farm <\/a>regularly attract visitors to this island stronghold. <\/p>\n 7. Bluefin tuna, Cornwall or Wales West coast<\/p>\n Though often grey and choppy, UK seas are home to some surprising species: orcas, basking sharks, leatherback turtles and even bluefin tuna<\/a>. These huge fish were once a regular sight, but overfishing meant no one had seen them in the UK for 60 years. In the last decade, numbers have begun to improve. Take a boat trip to see them breaching the water as they hunt herring. Even teenagers will be impressed.<\/p>\n
\n Log in<\/a>\n <\/p>\n![\"It](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/It-is-possible-to-spot-beavers-in-London.jpeg\")
It is possible to spot beavers in London (Abhilesh Dhawanjewar)<\/p>\n![\"a](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/10\/21\/10\/41\/Surrogate-crane-parent-holding-a-model-adult-crane-head-leading-three-young-Eurasian-cranes-away-fro.jpeg\")
a surrogate crane parent holding a model adult crane head, leading three young Eurasian cranes away from their enclosure in Somerset (Nick Upton)<\/p>\n![\"European](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/European-Pine-Marten-hunting-in-the-woods.jpeg\")
European Pine Martens can be spotted again in the UK (Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n![\"Visit](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/An-enormous-White-Tailed-Eagle-in-flight-seen-in-Mull-Scotland.jpeg\")
Visit Scotland to spot white-tailed eagles in flight (Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Bison](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Bison-bulls-and-their-calves-can-be-seen-in-Kent.jpeg\")
Bison bulls and their calves can be seen in Kent (Donovan Wright)<\/p>\n