ANIMAL encounters

You don’t need to hop on a plane to enjoy great wildlife. Here are five places in the UK to see some amazing animals

- SAM MURRAY

Red and fallow deer, Richmond Park

This one-time royal hunting ground in southwest London is now a National Nature Reserve, home to some 345 red deer and 315 fallow deer. They have been free-roaming deer in Richmond Park since 1637 and their grazing plays an important part in managing the landscape. Visit during the high-octane rutting season (September to November), when testosterone-fuelled males roar and clash antlers to compete for females. Bring binoculars and be sure to keep your distance.

Where to stay: The Victoria (from £95), a six-room boutique in East Sheen, is about a 10-minute walk away, with a restaurant and a pub-bar helmed by expert mixologists.

Ospreys, Loch Garten RSPB Reserve 

Ospreys disappeared from our shores in the early 1900s, victims of habitat loss and egg thieves. However, when a pair returned to Loch Garten, Abernethy in the 1950s, bird-lovers rallied and there are now an estimated 250 breeding pairs across the UK. Loch Garten RSPB is still regularly home to the fish-eating raptors. Your best time to visit is from late May, when the chicks have hatched and the males up their fish delivery service. The Nature Centre has binoculars and telescopes to aid your birding.