The Big Sheep, nr Bideford, Devon Not one for the animal purists, this features sheep-racing (with little woollen jockeys), sheep dogs, lambs to bottle-feed, and, bizarrely, horse-whispering, plus play areas.Open: daily, 10am £7.50; child, £6.50; family (two plus four), £29.50 (01237 472366).5. Ash End House Children's Farm, Tamworth, StaffordshireAdmission price includes food for the animals and a farm badge. Children can bottle-feed the lambs and hold a newly-hatched chick.Open: daily, 10am £3.90; child, £4.90 (0121-329 3240).3. Meanwhile, this wide selection of animal days, ranges from lambs to cuddle andcaged captives, to rare birds in the wild 1. Amazon World, Arreton, Isle of Wight Two hundred species of exotic animals, from parrots to giant African land snails Daily falconry talks and displays Open: daily, 10am £6.50; child, £5; senior, £5.50; family (two plus two), £22 (01983 867122).2. Tring Park, Tring, HertfordshireLovely parkland and woodland has great views If wet dive into the Walter Rothschild Zoological Museum Museum open: Mon-Sat, 10am; Sun, 2pm Free (020-7942 6171).30.

Waterfalls, near Pontneddfechan, PowysSpectacular waterfalls set among broadleaf woodlands in the Brecon Beacons National Park (01970 526866).. 30 examples of two kinds of days out with an animal theme. Choose from creatures in captivity, at zoos and petting farms, and those living in the wild, but observable at nature reserves. No prizes for guessing that we favour the latter, and, if your family shares our appetite for discovering wildlife for itself, head for the websites of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, RSPB, county wildlife trusts, or Scottish Natural Heritage. Melton Country Park, near Doncaster, LeicestershireNature and sculpture trails, plus a large lake.

Part of the Jubilee Way, a 15-mile path to Belvoir Castle crosses the park.Open: Wed-Mon, 11am (01664 480164).24. Nant Mill Woods and Plas Power Woods, Bersham, North Wales Plas Power includes a section of Offa's Dyke. Visitor centre (with loos, ice creams, picnic area, river for paddling in) is between the two sites.25. Prehen Wood, County Derry, off Derry-Strabane road, N Ireland The Woodland Trust owns this 400-year-old wood of mature oak, ash and beech, plus 60 plant species Long-eared owls and red squirrel thrive here.26. Reynold's Wood, Brogborough, BedfordshireMix of ancient, semi-natural woodland and modern woods, with good views Ancient boundary banks and Saxon farm sites visible (01476 581112).27. River Wey Navigations and Dapdune Wharf, SurreyA 20-mile towpath and wharf tell the story of the river and its people Dapdune Wharf: Open: Thurs-Mon, 11am £3.50; child, £2; family (two plus three), £10 (01483 561389).28. Lynford Arboretum and Lakes, near Mundford, NorfolkPart of Thetford Forest Park, with more than 200 tree species.