More of us are using technology to help us get closer to nature thanks to the many nature and wildlife apps which are being developed. You can now download apps for your mobile phone to help you find places to visit and identify the nature you spot when out and about.
The VisitWoods team and our volunteers have gathered together some of the best and most popular nature apps out there to bring you this guide.
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This app allows you to find your nearest Forestry Commission wood and what you can see and do there.
You can plan your visit with site directions, see what facilities are at the wood and also download trail maps. The picture gallery means you can see what the wood is like before visiting.
It also features a tree ID guide with 3D illustrations so you can learn as you wander around the wood.
Price: free
Available on: iPhone
Find places to go and things to in England with the Enjoy England app from Visit England.
You can search for outdoor activities and destinations and find free things to do. You can also get suggestions and ideas from Guardian readers and travel content. You can add activities and destinations you like to your favourites so you don't need to find them each time. One fantastic feature on this app is also the ability to view top attractions offline so you can still find things to do in areas without wi-fi or 3G access.
Launched by VisitScotland last year, Days Out is one the most popular free travel apps available.
The app allows you to find things to do and places to go in Scotland and an Inspire Me button if you're stuck for ideas. You can also plan your route to your chosen destination and view maps.
Available on: iPhone, Android
This app allows you to search over 450 heritage sights in England and Wales. You can plan your visit via Google Maps. Sites in Scotland will also soon be added to the app and you can add other places which are missing via the Heritage App website.
The Heritage app was featured in the The Sunday Times App List.
Price: 59p
Although better known for their properties, The National Trust also own many woods and beautiful areas of countryside which you can find with this app by searching by postcode or location.
The app gives you information on opening and prices and other information to help you plan your visit.
The Project Noah app is currently one of our favourites here in the VisitWoods team. Not only does it let you identify wildlife you have seen, you can also view what other people have seen in your local area and upload your nature spots to the wildlife map. However, the most exciting part is being able to take part in missions from photography competitions to recording butterflies and moths.
Get the popular Collins Complete British Wildlife Photoguide in a handy digital format. The app allows you to view photos and descriptions of more than 1500 species, broken down in to categories including mammals, birds, insects, trees & shrubs, fungi and many more.
Price: £5.99
Learn to identify native trees of the British Isles with this app.
The app will guide you through a series of questions to help you identify trees and give you images and facts about the tree you have identified. You can also take a photo of the tree and submit it to record it on the species map.
Price: £2.39
Learn to identify bird song with this app. The app allows you to search by bird or by song type and results are sorted by how common the birds are making it really easy to identify birds.
Each bird featured in the app has a photograph and fascinating facts to help you learn more about the birds you spot. You can test your knowledge as you go using the fun bird quiz.
Please note, there have been some reports of birds mistaking bird songs played from mobile phones for real bird song. Please refrain from listening to the bird songs featured in this app too loudly when outdoors.
Price: £1.79
Learn to identify wild mushrooms with this app which features photographs and information for over 1,550 mushrooms and fungi.
The app features edible and poisonous mushrooms and each mushroom is clearly marked to tell you if it is edible or what danger it presents if it is poisonous.
The app makes it really easy for you identify fungi when out and about in the woods. You can search by common or scientific name or if you have stumbled across something you don't recognise, you can use the visual key to identify it. The app gives lots of information to help in your identification, including information on size, shape and habitat.
While this app does help with identification of fungi, you should never eat mushrooms you find unless you are completely certain you know what it is.
Price: £1.19 or free for the lite version
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