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[Pete Richards]

Barnes, Greater London

When the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race passes through Barnes it is the urban landmarks that catch the eye. But this prosperous Thames-side enclave, with its elegant terraces and trendy restaurants, is also home to the London Wetland Centre. Attractions range from water scorpions and frogs to American wood ducks and Asian short-clawed otters.

“Barnes village retains a distinctly rural ambience,” says Sandra Carline of Savills. “As well as the Wetland Centre, there are 120 acres of open terrain to be enjoyed on Barnes Common.”

[Pete Richards]

Skye, Inner Hebrides

Anyone with memories of Gavin Maxwell’s otter movie Ring of Bright Water will be sure to fall for the charms of Skye. It is still a haven for the popular species. The author lived in a converted lighthouse keeper’s cottage there until his death in 1968. A three-bedroom house in Portree, above, can be found for around £150,000.

[Pete Richards]

Lee Valley, London

You can reach it on the Tube, but it doesn’t feel like part of the capital at all. The 10,000-acre Lee Valley Regional Park was designed as the “green lung” of London and spans stretches of Hertfordshire and Essex, too. It is a splendidly varied space, encompassing everything from sporting facilities to nature reserves. Water birds of every description dive and frolic. For twitchers, the highlight is that elusive species, the bittern.

[Pete Richards]

Brecon Beacons, Wales

Head north from the Brecon Beacons, one of Britain’s best-loved national parks, and you can hardly fail to see red kites circling overhead. This magnificent species was once close to extinction in Britain, but can be seen in mid-Wales at Gigrin Farm, Rhayader. The area is also good for sightings of the elusive lapwing. “The Beacons really are extraordinary,” says Anthony Clay of Knight Frank’s Hereford office. “Not much more than two hours from Paddington you can see buzzards competing for soaring space with paragliders.”

[Pete Richards]

North Devon/Lundy Island

Imagine being able to make regular day trips to Lundy, 12 miles off the coast of north Devon. This shimmering jewel in the Bristol Channel, accessible by boat from Bideford and Ilfracombe, has become a place of pilgrimage for wildlife enthusiasts. It is probably best known for its puffins, but also plays host to grey seal, sika deer, razorbills, guillemots, black-legged kittiwakes and oystercatchers.

[Pete Richards]

Nottingham

Nottingham conjures up images of verdant Sherwood Forest. It’s sadly reduced in size, but still a great place for a stroll, particularly in spring, when chaffinches flit between the birches. The Robin Hoods and Maid Marians of the 21st century can enjoy the Attenborough Nature Centre on the banks of the Trent. And they won’t need to rob the rich to pick out a home from a wide choice for under £100,000.

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