This large round urchin is sometimes found in rockpools, recognisable by its pink spiky shell (known as a test).

The serotine is one of the first bats to appear at night and can be seen around lamp posts chasing moths, or at treetop height. It likes to roost and hibernate in old buildings in the south of the…

Often seen carpeting the floor of ancient woodlands, Dog's mercury can quickly colonise, its fresh green leaves shading out rarer plants. It is also very poisonous.

Look out for the small holly blue in your garden or local park. It is the first blue butterfly to emerge in spring, and a second generation appears in summer. The caterpillars are fond of holly…

The ivy bee is a new arrival to the UK. First recorded here in 2001, it is slowly spreading north. It feeds mainly on the nectar of ivy flowers and can be seen in autumn when this plant is in…

On first glance, the meadow thistle looks a bit like a knapweed - it's not as prickly as other thistles and only carries one pinky-purple flower head. It can be found in damp meadows and…

If you spot a crawling shell next time you're at the seaside, take a closer look… it might be a hermit crab!

This worm builds its own home out of bits of shell and sand. It can be spotted on the shore all around the UK.

This bumpy shell lives up to its name and lives partly buried in the seabed along the west coast of Great Britain.

Found on rocky shores and seabeds, the Keyhole limpet gets its name from the little hole at the tip of its shell.