Summer holidays on the wild side

Rock pooling at the seaside is fun for all the family

Millions of Brits are thinking about spending their summer in the UK due to the rising cost of foreign holidays.

The Springwatch team have been discovering how you can have a wildlife holiday on a budget.

From a seaside break, to heading for the hills and woodlands, to staying at home - you can get closer to nature.

"No matter what you decide to do, it's possible to have a credit-crunching wildlife encounter," said Springwatch presenter Martin Hughes-Games.

Campsites are a real wildlife hotspot. There are more than 3000 camping and caravan sites across the UK and many of them are in our most beautiful countryside.

It doesn't cost the earth and it's a great adventure for the whole family.

"When you go camping you're only the thickness of your tent away from the natural world," said Springwatch presenter Martin Hughes-Games.

Camping is a great way to enjoy wildlife

"Always make sure to take some binoculars - but you don't need to spend a fortune on a pair - and take a field guide if you're going exploring for the first time.

"Make it a basic one as some of the bird guides can be too complicated. To let you into a little secret - the one I always take is Bill Oddies," he added.

Some of the camping and caravanning locations you can enjoy in Lancashire include the Yorkshire Wolds and the many spots along the coast in both East Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.

UK Campsites search

Camping and Caravanning UK

Along the coast

The UK coastline stretches for thousands of miles, offering a diverse range of habitats.

On a seaside break, the first instinct might be to flock to the beaches or, like moths to a flame, to the bright lights of the arcades - but by exploring a little further along the coast you can uncover a world of wildlife in the cliffs, tide pools and sea.

"There are spectacular wildlife hotspots all round our coast and it's not just birds - you can see seals, dolphins, even whales if you're lucky," said Martin.

Rock pools, or tide pools as they are sometimes known, are home to a wealth of sea life and provides a unique opportunity to study it at close quarters.

Wildlife fun on the coasts of Flamborough Head and Bempton

"I hadn't been rock pooling for years and I'd completely forgotten how much there is to see. It's fabulous, it's free and it's fun for all the family," said Martin.

"You'll see crabs, starfish, limpets, killer dog-whelks and if you catch a really low tide you might see British cowries or pipe fish - but don't forget to think safety first and keep an eye on the tide, it can come in far faster than you think."

Remember, the best sort of rock pooling means leaving no trace of your visit. Always return creatures back to the sea and leave the wonders of the rock pool for all to enjoy.

Some of the best areas of the East Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire coastline to enjoy marine wildlife includes: watching the seabirds at Bempton Cliffs near Flamborough, the amazing mix of wildlife at Spurn Point and the seals at Donna Nook.

Blacktoft Sands in Goole and the Far Ings Nature Reserve in Barton are home to reed-dwelling birds such as reed warbler, water rail and the uncommon bearded tit.

Marine Conservation Society

In the woods

The woods are the UK equivalent of the rainforests, they are the most diverse habitat that we have and there's always something new going on - whatever the season.

Wherever you live you're never far away from a woodland adventure.

"The woods are home to some of our most spectacular wildlife and big animals like deer, wild boar, foxes and badgers," said Martin.

Woodland visits get you closer to nature

"Surprisingly, it's often a wood that has lots of visitors that is a better place to see wildlife as they get used to people.

"You should also go very early in the morning, and I mean really early - like first light, as this is when the animals are at their busiest.

"Getting up that early is a real adventure and just think how delicious your breakfast will taste when you get home," he added.

A popular location in the region for exploring woodland habitats include Normanby Hall Country Park in North Lincolnshire, where herds of Red and Fallow Deer can be seen at its ancient deer park.

The open landscape of the Yorkshire Wolds provides a suitable habitat for the brown hare, even a brown long-eared bat roost is known to be spotted in the Wold village of South Dalton.

The Woodland Trust

Holidaying at home

If you're deciding to holiday at home this year, one of the most exciting wildlife habitats can be found in your own garden or from a visit to the local park.

"I love spending time in my garden, but if I'm not at home there's always a green space somewhere nearby that'll act like a magnet for wildlife," said Martin.

"I'm passionate about insects as they have some of the best stories. Forget looking up at the birds, look down and under things and you'll find a bizarre and fascinating world.

"Again, get yourself a basic guide book and a magnifying glass. There are 20,000 different species of insect in Britain so you'll never be short of new discoveries."

Take a wildlife adventure in your garden

Our region has a wide range of parks and gardens. Ranging from the formal gardens of stately homes such as Burton Constable Hall to more wild areas, such as the Sugar Mill Ponds Nature Reserve near Goole.

National Parks

Parks and Gardens UK

From villages to cities, the countryside to the coast - wildlife is everywhere you look.

To help you make the most of it, a number of free pocket guides are available from BBC Breathing Places.