Nature stories

With the holiday season about to start, one option for people looking to save money in the credit crunch is to holiday in the UK, because foreign trips are getting too expensive.

As the BBC's Springwatch team have been discovering, this country is packed with wonderful wildlife that you can enjoy without spending a fortune.

If you're planning a seaside break, heading for the hills, woodlands and rivers, or simply putting your feet up at home, it's possible to have a credit-crunching encounter with Mother Nature.

Going camping

Campsites are a real wildlife hotspot. There are more than 3,000 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.

Camping is a great way to enjoy wildlife

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

"Always make sure to take some binoculars – 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 Oddie's."

Some of the camping and caravanning locations you can enjoy in Herefordshire and Worcestershire include:

The Golden Valley

Yat Rock at Symonds Yat

Symonds Yat and the Wye Valley

The Malverns

The Vale of Evesham

The Wyre Forest

In the woods

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

Woodland visits get you closer to nature

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

"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.

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.

View from the top fo Greenhill

"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."

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.