I may have waxed lyrical about travel experiences in far-flung, exotic corners of the earth, but what about those who do not have the budget to go gallivanting across the planet or do not wish to take part in the truly miserable process that is international air travel, replete with its contribution to global warming?

In the UK, ecologically-focused breaks have changed; they no longer require the donning of sandals and you'll be doing something much more exciting than building a dry stone wall or laying a hedge.

For £500, the Wildlife Trusts partnership (wildlifetrusts.org) is offering a voyage of discovery in search of basking sharks aboard a beautiful 39ft sailing craft. This is not five nights of spartan research hell, but nor is it a sun lotion and lounger holiday. You will be trained in the art of marine wildlife surveying, how to judge distances at sea, how to record your observations, what to look for and how to steer a course. You will be doing some "real science" adding to the knowledge of these rare and little understood creatures and other inhabitants of our waters. Past sightings have included 94 sharks in one day, as well as humpback whale, orca, sunfish and various other species of little known British wildlife.

If you fancy more of a land-based experience but still with a salty flavour, the Sea Trust (seatrust.org.uk) offers a variety of trips in south and west Wales, among them a week of photography and wildlife watching on Skokholm, off Pembrokeshire, a stunning and remote island of seals, puffins and spring flowers that beats anything that can be seen on the mainland.

There are times when a pocket-sized Chris Packham or Bill Oddie would come in very handy. The Sussex Wildlife Trust (sussexwt.org.uk) can't promise a celebrity naturalist but it is laying on experiences where a local expert will guide you through some of the region's best woodlands in its new wildlife breaks. The two-day spring break (April 26-27; to book, call the Old Tollgate Hotel in Bramber West Sussex on 01903 879494) includes visits to Ebernoe Common, Burton Pond and Loder Valley, looking for early purple orchids and migrant birds, and Woods Mill where you'll be listening for nightingales. There are also trips in July (butterflies and dragonflies) and October (wintering birds on the coast).

So you can travel less, experience more and learn new things about your own country, while knowing that your money will be ploughed back into worthy projects. All in all a real feel-good holiday.

· Nick Baker is a presenter on the BBC's Really Wild Show.