Bell heather is our most familiar heather. In summer, it carpets our heaths, woods and coasts with purple-pink flowers that attract all kinds of nectar-loving insects.

Did you know we have colourful corals in UK seas? Pink sea fans are a type of horny coral - related to the sea fans found in the tropics. Don't be fooled by their name though, pink sea fans…

Although, commonly referred to as a ‘sea snail,’ this species in fact belongs to the fish family!

This small, round sea urchin is (unsurprisingly!) green in colour and can be found on rocky shores around the UK.

This colonial creature looks like an old-fashioned quill - that's where the name sea pen comes from.

The black sea bream really is a fascinating fish. From sex changes to nest building, this fish is full of surprises!

The lightbulb sea squirt is common around much of the UK. Its easy to see where its name came from!

These mat like growths found on kelp and seaweed are actually colonies of tiny individuals animals.

This strange furry creature often found washed ashore after storms is actually a kind of worm!

These little critters are related to the woodlice you find in your garden and play a very important role on rocky shores.

Another member of the echinoderm phylum, feather stars share some characteristics with true starfish, but also have their very own intriguing adaptations and behaviours, which make them a…