From badgers to parakeets, foxes to geese - there's a whole world of wildlife waiting to be explored in Tameside.
Many people think they have to travel far and wide to clasp eyes on creatures in their natural habitat, but in actual fact many creatures are on our doorstep.
Dan Mckay is from Tameside's People 4 Wildlife, a community group dedicated to the protection of wildlife and green space activities within the borough.
He said: "We are lucky enough to have so many different species on our doorstep, from the Tame Valley and local reservoirs to our parks - every corner of Tameside has it's own diverse population of wildlife that is worthy of its own TV programme.
"I never thought many years ago that I would be sat in Tameside watching deer, badgers, peregrine falcons, owls and parakeets just to name a few.
"At night our local woods, fields and also streets come alive with the antics of these creatures.
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"Also during the night we have different species of owl that can be seen out hunting as well as foxes, but also some smaller predators such as stoats and weasels."
Here are some of Dan's top wildlife walk tips for Tameside and the surrounding area.
Haughton Dale
A lovely stretch of river with flat accessible paths and an abundance of wildlife that favour our rivers such as kingfishers, dippers and herons.
Also keep an eye on the sky with the occasional buzzard soaring above on the thermals.
Stamford Park
Away from the park down by the brook is surprisingly good for wildlife.
Often seen on this short but tranquil walk are rabbits, woodpeckers and wagtails.
If you have the kids with you then this is a good extra 20 minutes out within the park or to make even more out of your visit why not visit the ducklings currently on the duck pond.
Great Wood
Tameside's largest woodland, with entrances from Hattersley and Broadbottom.
This walk isn't suitable for those with any mobility restraints as it's very uneven but, if you start making your way through these woods, look out for animals such as deer, sparrowhawks and also fungi - there's a wide variety within this woodland.
Stalybridge Country Park
Located at Millbrook, there are many different walking options from the park itself up towards Bottoms Reservoir - one of the only places in Tameside where you can see grouse and pheasant in large numbers, along with birds of prey such as kestrels.
Reddish Vale
The Vale is easy to navigate for people of all mobilities. It has a number of large ponds which are home to a variety of species of ducks and geese.
You should also keep your eyes peeled for some non-native species currently on show around the park, such as parakeets and mink.
Etherow Lodge Park
Situated in Hollingworth this hidden gem is looked after by the Friends of Etherow Lodge Park.
The park eventually meets the river and along these walks you will encounter animals such as woodpeckers, kingfisher and sparrow hawks.
Once on the river there's plenty of other routes that lead away from the park and back towards Woolley Lane with even more wildlife to offer.
Daisy Nook Country Park
A firm favourite with lots of wildlife enthusiasts and home to a fantastic little cafe.
The paths are in good condition but there's also areas where you can go off track and explore in search of the elusive roe deer.
You can also visit the swans and geese at Crime Lake but don't forget to stop and make a fuss of the highland cow.
What do Tameside's People 4 Wildlife do?
Tameside's People 4 Wildlife is a community group dedicated to the protection of wildlife and green space activities around Tameside.
It is made up of volunteers and carries out two main types of work - call-outs and advice, and community work.
They collect injured animals, house them temporarily and give them medical attention until they are released or moved onto a more specialised wildlife team.
They also attend calls for deceased mammals on the roads or woodlands.
The group also works alongside schools and colleges to educate the next generation about all aspects of wildlife and nature.
And they run a range of activities including bird box building, pond dipping, litter picking and habitat protection.
For more about the group and upcoming events and activities, visit its Facebook page.
