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Are you going gift shopping for the wildlife and nature lover in your life, but you don’t know what to start looking for? Need some tips on the best zoo-fantastic gifts to give your beloved animal aficionado friends and family members?
Look no further; here you will find 12 of the top-rated wildlife & tracking gifts for nature lovers! Using our guide, you’ll be able to find 12 different wildlife and tracking items that will really help you level up your gift-giving game. From the latest and greatest wildlife-capturing cameras to expert books on animal tracking, you’ll find plenty of perfect gift ideas in the list below. These fun gadgets, high-tech items, and guides will make perfect additions to any nature lover’s collection. Find the next best stocking stuffer or main prize with our cool list of wildlife and tracking gifts that any animal friend is sure to enjoy. 1. Animals of the British isles
You don’t have to travel to every corner of the globe to find an amazing diversity of wildlife. The planet has so much to offer just in the UK alone, so this guide to the animals of the British Isles will never disappoint.
Look at over 950 images of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians, and critters that you can find anywhere in the British Isles. Plus, you can read descriptions about the animal’s habitat, behaviors, reproduction cycle, and other characteristics to quickly help you become an animal know-it-all. This book gives a detailed list of over 440 native animals that you’ll find throughout Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales. A perfect give for someone who currently lives on the British Isles. Take a local UK road trip and see how many animals you can point out from the book! 
2. Thermal imaging scope
For the wildlife enthusiast in your life who is a fan of traversing rugged landscapes, this FLIR Ocean Scout 240 thermal imaging scope is a must-have.
It is one of the best scopes to use in almost any condition or climate, giving you the best chance of capturing beautiful rare beasts and other animalistic delights. It can also help you avoid hazards or obstacles in the dark. Want to get a great shot of some rare marine life? Use this thermal imaging scope while underwater to see every object even in the darkest of places. A lot of professionals and hobbyists can vouch for this one, as it is used on boats, kayaks, and other ocean crafts to help sailors navigate safely through dark or murky waters. It is even used by professionals in search-and-rescue missions! A thermal imaging scope is a great gift for utility, functionality, and fun. Be sure to put one under the tree for the explorer in your life. 
3. Illuminated mini beast centre
You don’t even have to go anywhere to get up-close and personal with wildlife.
Those who love animals but want to stay at home for a while will enjoy this illuminated mini beast centre. This cosy little house attracts all kinds of animals like bugs and birds. If there are any aspiring entomologists or rare insect-lovers, among your circle of friends, you can give them this gift that will surely become their favourite thing. A little house that attracts butterflies, worms, bees, and even moths when the solar-powered light comes on at night! Or, you may get lucky and find that birds have made a small nest in the little beast centre, letting you watch the beauty of nature from the comfort of your very own garden. 
4. Go Pro
Perhaps the best exploration camera on the market today is the Go Pro, which offers crystal-clear 4K technology and a hard protective case to protect it from scratches even in the roughest of environments.
It’s been hailed year after year as the ultimate camera for those who are on-the-go and ready to have a wilderness adventure. Any animal enthusiast who is interested in tracking and photographing the most amazing pictures of wildlife will need a camera like the Go Pro as their ultimate companion. Not only is it a durable little camera that you can take with you into a waterfall or down in the depths of a desert canyon, but it is also one with high graphical capabilities. Capture beautiful animal photos like never before with this industry-recommended camera. Enjoy the number of accessories and tools that can enhance your lenses, help you see at night, or take photos in rapid succession so you can record all of the exciting animal action no matter where you are! 
5. Pop up wildlife viewing hide
There is no way to get too close to a wild animal without it noticing you. In order to keep yourself and the creatures out of harm’s way, you need to give yourself some distance - or find a really good hiding spot!
In this case, the pop-up wildlife viewing hide is an excellent gift for someone who wants to sneak into a wild habitat without disturbing nature’s balance. This is an especially good gift for birdwatchers and nature photographers alike. Some creatures are so skittish or fast-moving that it is almost impossible to capture them in an image. But with the ability to hide out and stay camouflaged, you can get right up into the action without any wildlife ever noticing. Be sure to read the instructions before scaring off some of nature’s most precious creations! 
Pop up wildlife viewing hide
6. Camera drone
Drones allow us to take better pictures from better angles than ever before. You would be amazed at how rapidly drone technology is advancing, allowing wildlife trackers to get really amazing shots of wildlife in just about any remote location in the world.
As an A15 foldable FPV camera device, this drone in particular is a good choice for beginners and veteran drone flyers alike, as it is super user-friendly and can easily connect to your phone for ultimate control. This one even has voice controls on it, so you can really direct each and every movement with your own personal machine! You can use the app to draw a trajectory and then have the drone fly on your exact path. It is super-silent, so it won’t disturb wildlife even at lower altitudes. Consider this drone a one-stop-shop for your 
7. Bird box camera
Another great stay-at-home gift is the bird box camera, which allows your nature-loving friends to watch birds make and care for their nests without disturbing them.
The little camera can be inserted into just about any kind of bird box, making it perfect for viewing birds and their nest of eggs from a distance. This camera comes with an entire kit, helping you find out the best way to set up your bird box camera. Nesting materials are also included to help encourage some of your local birds to take shelter in the box. Simply plug the camera into the TV to playback and view the images of your birds! You can also use it to film bugs, rodents, and any other critters that happen to find the bird box a cosy enough place to call home! 
8. Bushnell Motion sensor camera
Some animals move so quickly or so discreetly that it can be impossible to get them on film right when you want them. And sometimes, the interesting habits and behaviours of those animals don’t happen until it is pitch dark at night.
Either way, the animal enthusiast in your life is going to need a really fast-acting camera to capture every little hint of movement possible. This motion sensor by Bushnell is top-rated across the industry for its adjustable infrared capabilities and increased sensitivity to help you pick up even the slightest movements. It is recommended for trackers and photographers alike because of its flexibility and reliable functionality. It is good to use at night or in any hard-to-see spots where every little motion counts! 
9. Hedgehog home
Who doesn’t love the cute, silly hedgehogs that feast on carrots and hibernate in the winter?
If your friend or family member is a lover of unique pets, they will be utterly thrilled to find the Hutch Company hedgehog house and hibernation shelter under their holiday tree this year. It is the perfect home for little hedgehogs, as it provides lots of warmth and ample cuddle space for several friendly pets. It is cold-proof and predator-proof, making it a safe garden home for hedgehogs. This multi-purpose shelter also includes a felt roof, feeding station, and insulation to make it a comfortable space both for sleeping and breeding. Any prickly friend would be happy to call this place home! The best part is, there is no assembly needed, so you can simply pick this delightful gift and give it to your animal-loving friend. 
1o. Binoculars
What is the point of tracking animals if you can’t even see them? You should never go on any kind of wildlife or animal viewing expedition without a good pair of binoculars.
These Nikon Monarch 5 binoculars are rated highly for their ability to provide far-reaching vision down to the smallest detail. Not to mention, you can adjust your focus to magnify from 2x all the way up to 8x, allowing you to see across major distances. Or, you can view something as close as 8 feet away with the close-up option. The coated glass makes it easier for you to see in all climates without glare or low light getting in the way. The best way to view animals and the natural colours of wildlife can lie in the palm of your hand with these handy-dandy binoculars. 
11. Practical Tracking
Whether the animal enthusiast in your life is a seasoned tracker or just trying to look for animals for the first time, Practical Tracking is for you.
Officially known as a “guide to following footprints & finding animals”, this book will give you everything you need to know to start tracking animals the right way. No matter where you are in the world or what kind of creatures you are interested in tracking, you can learn a lot from this handy book. Anyone who is interested in exploring the wilderness and tracking animals in any kind of habitat should not leave home without a copy of this book on hand at all times. Find large mammals, herbivores, rare birds, and even sea creatures with the tracking skills taught in this guide. 
12. Night vision scope
Only the most dedicated trackers and wildlife photographers go on the hunt at night. And when they do, they need to have the right equipment with them so that they can see clearly no matter how dark it gets.
This night vision scope offers everything in one: binoculars, a video camera, and an HD infrared camera with over 400 meters of viewable range at any given time. The sensors can be adjusted so you have ultimate clarity even in the murkiest of weather. Magnify up to seven times larger than life and use the added zoom tools to hone in on an animal subject. The scope also comes with a cable that can be attached to a laptop or TV later in order to view all of the spectacular images. 
Give the Gift of Wilderness Tracking Today!
Whether the animal lover in your life wants to learn more about local animal species and trends or they are ready to get out there and start exploring the uncharted wilderness, there is a gift out there that they will really love.
Hopefully, this list has helped to give you some ideas for the best wildlife and tracking gifts for any and all nature lovers you know of! Get your hands on these gifts while they last and surprise someone this year with a truly meaningful present.
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The garden is a place where unlike the home, anything goes. Gardens and outside spaces are not subject to the same constraints other areas of the home are. This means we have the ability to let go and be adventurous when seeking out exciting garden decor.
Unusual garden gifts can compliment a friend’s quirky personality or nature. Quirky things for the garden can provide outside focal points and make new, exciting garden spaces. Perhaps a friend or family member has a strange interest or hobby an unusual garden gift could adhere to perfectly?
Whatever your reason for buying an unusual present for the garden, one thing is for sure. Life is too short to keep things predictable. Gardeners and garden lovers know very well that the garden gives them somewhere to escape and relax. With all the stresses and strains of modern life it is important to make ones garden a sanctuary.
Maybe a friend has a tropical themed garden that could do with a realistic orangutan statue? Maybe they love fairy tales and some fairy garden décor would make the perfect unusual garden gift! There are dozens of fantastically crazy and out of the ordinary things to excite your senses! From underground beer coolers to funky water features to bonsai growing kits we have put together our favourite unusual gifts for the garden here. Grow your own avocado tree
Everyone can be fascinated by the amazing natural phenomena of seed germination. Watching a seed sprout into a living plant is one of nature’s many miracles.
No better example of this amazing process can be seen than with an avocado seed. This tree native to South America has a delicious fruit rich in good fatty acids. After enjoying a yummy avocado simply add the large stone to this unusual garden gift and wait. After a few days of watering and a little warmth you will observe in amazement as a baby avocado tree will sprout into life! This process can be repeated several times and baby trees can be potted into bigger pots for growing on. These in themselves can make unusual garden gifts for friends and who knows maybe even one day you will harvest your own, fresh avocados! 
Wild flower seed bomb kit
Nowadays everyone is becoming more aware of environmental issues such as biodiversity loss and ecological destruction.
Many gardeners have realised that you do not have to stop mass deforestation to make a difference! By making new habitats for biodiversity and growing plants which attract wildlife can make a huge difference too! Wildflowers can be perfect for such new habitat creation projects in the garden. Wildflower meadows create dense vegetation for insects to have shelter and security. These wild plants also provide food and nectar for many beneficial insects in the garden. These insects feed on garden pests and also help to feed local wildlife higher up the food chain. 
Vertical green wall planter
Want to find a really unusual garden gift? How about convincing your garden loving friends into growing a vertical garden? Green walls are becoming extremely popular in recent times especially in urban gardens.
Multiple modules or planting pockets allow you to utilise vertical surfaces for growing herbs, flowers or even vegetables! Not only do vertical planters look amazing they are also great for the environment. Vegetated walls help to keep warm air inside during winter and help to cool buildings in summer. Not only is science starting to uncover discoveries that seeing natural greenery is good for peoples mental well being. These vertical planters are a perfect gift especially for city gardeners. They even help to attract more wildlife too. 
Glow in the dark garden pebbles
If there is one thing that really makes a garden special it is illumination at night! Lights and glowing objects can be used to mark out pathways or lead the eye to exciting features.
These glowing pebbles are fantastic for pots or around ponds and pathways. These very unusual garden gifts can add some spectacular magic to fairy gardens, Disney gardens or even Christmas displays. Pebbles are a fantastic way of gifting a friend with something to let their imaginations run wild! 
Bonsai growing kit
Bonsai growing originated in Asia thousands of years ago. The art of Bonsai grows sapling trees into older specimens and by restricting their roots they form a mature looking tree but in miniature.
In order to create the perfect bonsai however there are certain skills and processes one must undertake. Using a combination of pruning, training and constant daily care bonsai examples can become rather remarkable specimens! Some of the most famous bonsai from Japan are hundreds of years old. Many of these are worth thousands of pounds and look simply amazing. What better way to give an unusual garden gift than this bonsai growing kit? Perfect for Christmas, birthdays or any special occasion. 
Butterfly nectar feeder
One of the things that has really helped wildlife decline in our towns and countryside is the reduction in places to shelter. Hedgerows, decomposing log piles and standing dead trees all used to provide homes for thousands of species, especially insects.
Unfortunately our new modern garden styles lend themselves to simplicity and a minimum of clutter. Most of us however love to see the fluttering of butterflies and hear the joy of bird song! It is not always possible to create a forest in our gardens but we can add nesting boxes to provide places for them to live and feed. This Butterfly nectar feeder gives butterflies somewhere safe and secure for them to rest and feed in your garden. They make the perfect unusual garden gifts for nature lovers. 
Bird box video camera
Bird boxes can give people the perfect way of attracting birds into the garden. These provide great places for birds to shelter and raise young. These are sadly in short supply nowadays, why not lend a helping hand?
The more bird boxes the more birds we will have visiting our gardens with all the benefits they bring. Birds eat thousands of pests and insects every year including insects, slugs and snails. Now however there is an even better reason to add a bird box to your garden. This bird box video camera will enable you to video the inside of the box enjoying watching the mother raise her young. This provides you a unique view of nature in action and is fantastic to watch with your family. This bird box camera set makes a perfect unusual garden gift for the ones you love in your life. 
Insect hotel
With today’s tidy gardens with manicured lawns it can be challenging for insects to find suitable places to nest and reproduce. Large areas of paving and planting schemes which remove old woody material mean there are less places for all sorts of insects to shelter.
Many insects lifecycles require some of their life dormant in a safe and tucked away spot. Many solitary bees require long tubular structures to lay their eggs and survive the winter. But there is no longer a need to have a jungle for a garden in order to provide suitable nesting sites. These insect hotels provide plenty of nooks and crannies for all sorts of beneficial insects. Their cool design with interesting textures actually makes them a garden artwork and centrepiece. 
Orangutan garden ornament
Garden ornaments are a brilliant way to provide some height and interest to garden spaces. Mankind has created and used ornaments to mimic nature since the beginning of civilisation.
Ornaments give us a three dimensional view of the world around us and can show case the wonders of the natural world. This Orangutan ornament may seem a rather unusual garden gift but would add a talking point to any garden. Its life like feel and curious expression means it could be incorporated into any good garden design. Orangutans are now critically endangered and to enjoy this wonder of nature every day in your garden will be a rare treat indeed. 
Robot lawnmower
Not only does a freshly cut garden lawn look amazing it is also a functional outdoor surface. There is no better outside area than a soft garden lawn to sit on and play garden sports in summer time.
It has to be said however that constantly cutting and caring for the perfectly manicured lawn can be a drama. Every season getting the mower out of the shed can be a laborious task and one that simply keeps on coming back! Fear not! if there is one gardening gadget that you will wonder how you ever lived without its the robotic lawnmower. Not only will this smart piece of garden technology cut the grass it will actually help care for your lawn. Robot mowers cut at such a high frequency they make your grass thicker and fuller! These handy garden mowers can make an impressive and unusual garden gift. This is certainly one to make the neighbours green with envy. 
Solar light wind chimes
If anyone was asked what it is the thing they love most about the garden a joy to the senses would probably get a mention. Gardens allow us to feel the wind on our skin and hear the birds sing their glorious songs. It is not a surprise that countless cool garden gadgets can enhance our outdoor senses even further.
A perfect example of this is the wonderful Solar light, wind chime. Just as any other wind chime it plays a soothing melody when there is a gentle breeze. However this has the added allure of having suspended solar balls which light up during the night. This creates a wonderful and even hypnotic dance which can make you stare for hours. This will make a truly unique gift your friends and family will absolutely love. 
Motion activated video camera
It is true that even keen garden lovers do not know what lives at the bottom of their garden. When the evening comes and the sun goes down most gardens are absolutely alive with nocturnal animal life. To see this other side of your garden can be rather quite amazing and interesting.
Most people discover their gardens have much more wildlife than they could ever of imagined! Even in the centre of the city! What better way to explore this from the comfort of your own living room than with this digital game camera. It can take pictures or video both day and night and makes for an exciting tech garden gift. 
Garden digital thermometer
A wise person once stated 'if it can't be measured, it can’t be managed' It is probably not the first thought for gardeners to familiarise themselves with the average temperature outside.
Knowing your gardens average temperatures however can be extremely useful for garden enthusiasts. This knowledge can directly influence a gardener in what they grow and when they grow it. This could be the difference between gardening success or failure! What better way to become familiar with your gardens temperature than with this outdoor digital thermometer. It is also extremely effective for greenhouses and monitoring garden microclimates. 
Weed puller
Every gardener will tell you weeding is probably the least favourite part of what they do. Unfortunately the type of plants you don’t want in the garden are those that are quick to establish and difficult to get rid of. Of all the different types of weeds most gardeners will tell you their most hated is deep tap rooted types.
Weeds like Dock and Dandelion can be a pain to get rid of with their roots going down as deeply as 4 feet! Well fear not! This garden weed puller is just the thing needed to get to the root of the problem. Deep grabbing blades slide down either side of each root and a pulling mechanism helps you to lift them out with ease! These unusual but effective methods of weeding will revolutionise the way you weed forever. 
Compost roller
Composting is such an effective and ecological way to recycle garden nutrients and produce organic fertiliser. Not only is composting good for your garden it is also great for the planet!
Traditionally composting has meant heaping up garden debris and regularly turning it to add oxygen. Although this helps soil microorganisms break down waste quicker it can be extremely hard work especially on the lower back. So why not gift your friend with this very unusual garden gift with a fun and easy way to make compost! This compost roller allows you to turn your organic waste by rolling it up and down the garden. Not only is this great fun and exercise for children it accelerates the composting process my adding more air and mixing up the ingredients. 
Window bird feeder
Feeding the local birds has become more and more popular every single year for decades now. A great awareness and shocking statistics of our decline in wild bird species has provoked us all to take action.
With more of us installing bird boxes, bird baths and feeders there is at least hope in time our bird species numbers will recover. Feeding the birds however is not just a matter of conservation. Seeing birds within a short distance at the bird feeder can be a joyful experience and exciting past time! Well now you really can get an up and personal look at your garden birds even if your seat is by the window or not. This window bird feeder simply sticks to the window with suction cups. Fill the trays with seed and wait, you will not be disappointed! 
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We all know somebody who seems to spend more time outdoors than inside. Whether camping, hiking, gardening or crafting, they can’t get enough of Mother Nature. The grass is their sofa, the birdsong their morning alarm. They don’t care for Netflix, but a new edition of their favourite wildflower almanac is bound to raise a smile.
If you’ve got an outdoorsy type in your life, you might be wondering what to gift them at the next birthday or Christmas. The good news is there are plenty of great products for people who love being out in the wild. Perhaps your family is planning a big camping trip and you need some new outdoor gear. Or perhaps you just fancy treating yourself. Whatever your reasons for browsing outdoor gadgets, we’re going to show you some of the coolest. We’ve listed our favourite outdoor products and equipment to give you some inspiration. Here are our top picks: 1. Bio-Lite Wood-Burning Stove
Bio-lite wood-burning stoves have become very popular with camping fans because they provide a ‘clean’ way to cook outdoors. To create a fully functional electric oven, the user simply needs to build a fire (as many people already do when they go camping). Then, they position the bio-lite stove on top of the fire.
The heat from the fire powers a thermoelectric generator inside the stove. This generator charges a fan which injects air into the burn chamber to create a more efficient, more eco-friendly cooking process. It even stores excess energy as electric to be used for charging devices via an integrated USB port. Pretty cool, huh? The only downside to these cool outdoor ovens is their size. They can cook almost anything – including pizzas – but they tend to be on the bulky side. For this reason, we think they’re best suited to campers who travel by vehicle. If you’re going to buy one, you need an easy way to transport a portable stove that’s on the larger side. 
2. Thermal Imaging Scope
This next gadget is for the serious outdoorsman (or lady). As high-quality thermal imaging scopes can be very expensive, you should have a clear purpose in mind when browsing for one. Are you hoping to capture nocturnal animals? Do you need a thermal scope for hunting expeditions? Are you hoping to increase your home’s security?
Whatever your reasons for buying a thermal scope, shop carefully. Thermal vision doesn’t need a light source to operate, unlike standard night vision. This means it’s perfect for night-time hunting trips and detecting movement whether from people or animals in extremely low light conditions. You should be aware thermal imaging scopes are normally a little heavier than night vision scopes. Make sure your chosen gadget has ergonomic features that allow it to be gripped tightly without discomfort. You don’t want to lose this piece of kit in the woods! 
3. Go Pro
Go Pro cameras have been a staple in the equipment bags of mountain bikers, hikers and climbers for a long time. Yes, they can be rather pricey. However, depending on the type of video footage you’re trying to capture, they may be the only viable choice. Nothing matches Go Pro cameras for rugged, fast-paced action shots and videos.
These ‘action’ cameras are popular for two reasons. They can be mounted in an almost endless variety of ways on car hoods, bike handles, skateboards, rucksacks, shoulder harnesses and lots more. They’re also designed to withstand very fast movement so, unlike many other portable cameras, they are capable of recording things like extreme sports in crystal clear quality. You don’t need to empty your bank account quite yet because Go Pro cameras come in a wide variety of models. Some models can be bought for as little as £120. Other Go Pros retail for more than £380 and come with an array of sophisticated features like super time-lapse vision, HyperSmooth stabilisation and 1080p live streaming. 
4. Metal Detector
Metal detectors have experienced a serious surge in popularity over the last five years. They’ve become cool gadgets and now everybody wants one. There’s something unmistakably relaxing about an afternoon spent metal detecting. It’s not really about finding valuables; it’s about getting outdoors and paying attention to things.
These devices come in a range of different sizes and prices. If you want to make metal detecting a regular hobby, you might consider a more expensive product with an interchangeable coil and a large ID LCD meter. Or you could spend less on a midrange detector with a medium-sized waterproof coil and a non-slip adjustable neck. If this is your first foray into metal detecting, we recommend a midrange product, at least to begin with. You’ll find some fantastic machines on the market for under £80. Some of our favourites come with universal headphone jacks so you can plug in and tune out the background noises. This can be very helpful when detecting in locations like the beach. 
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AuthorPaul Nicolaides is a Landscape architect and garden builder with over 30 years experience in designing, building and maintaining gardens. Contemplating just how important garden space is for nature and recreation he created 'Cool Garden Gadgets' to explore the best gadgets for enhancing outside spaces. From outdoor dining ideas to the latest garden technology we break it down for you here. Archives
November 2021
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