Where is the best place to live in the UK?

rlchew · #1 (**permalink**) 19-01-2007, 09:47 PM

Apparently according to BBC Wildlife magazine, it is Cumbria.

The best place to live in the UK

I must confess that I do not know Cumbria very well other than as a County that the M6 takes me through on the way to Scotland.

Are there any Cumbrian WABers here to sing its praises?

Norfolk, which I know very well and think is absolutely brilliant for wildlife all year round, came second.

Norfolk a wildlife lovers' paradise

If you wish to nominate your County, you can do so via the BBC Wildlife magazine website (link above).

Richard

Kymba · #2 (**permalink**) 19-01-2007, 10:28 PM

I know i am bias because until 6 years ago i had lived there all of my life But I think Devon is the best place to live.. you have Dartmoor and lots of countryside.. but you are close to Cornwall and the New Forest with lots of amazing places within easy reach

Wolfhill · #3 (**permalink**) 19-01-2007, 10:50 PM

Well I couldn't think of a better place to live in the UK than Perthshire

, you have mountains 3000+ft and lowlands, lochs, moors and some great forests which creatures such as Cappercaillie and Wildcats, Red Squirels and Pine Martins. There is so much to see all through the year!

badgerwatcher · #4 (**permalink**) 19-01-2007, 11:42 PM

Here, but I've already bagged it!

Wild-Woman · #5 (**permalink**) 20-01-2007, 07:02 AM

Well I'm a chalk downs lover. So anywhere with that sort of scenery and it's associated flora and fauna. I suppose if I defined it a bit more, probably south side of the Isle of Wight.
ww

aeshna5 · #6 (**permalink**) 20-01-2007, 07:19 AM

Interesting survey- not all the criteria were wildlife based, such as population density, traffic, greenhouse emissions, etc. I don't know Cumria that well + I appreciate it's wild scenery + the wildlife there, but I doubt it's the richest (in terms of biodiversity) in UK. That would surely fall to one of the southern coastal counties.

I would guess Dorset could be the richest wildlife county with the rich mix of habitats- the chalk, extensive heathlands, Poole Harbour-second largest in world, woodland, etc. Along with perhaps Wiltshire it is the best butterfly county along with many other insect groups such as moths, Odonata, Orthoptera + probably others. Excellent for birds, though probably trailing Norfolk + perhaps Kent. With diverse geology + warmth I think the article rated a part of Dorset as richest plant area. All the native reptiles are here too.

Guess we all have our favourites, but (+ unfortunately it's a big but) if money were no object, I'd happily live my days out in Hardy country.

rlchew · #7 (**permalink**) 20-01-2007, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfhill

Well I couldn't think of a better place to live in the UK than Perthshire

, you have mountains 3000+ft and lowlands, lochs, moors and some great forests which creatures such as Cappercaillie and Wildcats, Red Squirels and Pine Martins. There is so much to see all through the year!

I had a feeling that you might say that

.

However, as a regular visitor to the Scottish Highlands I have to say that you do indeed live in one of the most beautiful parts of the UK with some special wildlife. Thames-side Essex does not comapare!

Richard

nightshade · #8 (**permalink**) 20-01-2007, 08:29 AM

Somerset,we have got everything including short journeys for stuff we do not have

RobSutton · #9 (**permalink**) 20-01-2007, 08:33 AM

Yorkshire of course - that's the official line but please don't tell anybody up here that I'd probably go for Islay. Spectacular wildlife, tens of thousands of geese in the winter, eagles, otters, seals, corncrakes etc and eight distilleries making the finest malt whiskys in the world.