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

Freshwater pearl mussels spend their adult lives anchored to the river bed, filtering water through their gills and improving the quality of the water for other species.

This brightly-coloured beetle is often found feeding on flowers on warm days in late spring and summer.

This tiny wading bird is most often seen in autumn, feeding on the muddy margins of wetlands.

The brown hairstreak is an elusive butterfly that spends much of its time in the treetops feeding on aphid honeydew.

This well-camouflaged wader is a winter visitor to the UK, where it can be seen feeding on wetlands with a distinctive bobbing motion.

The little grebe is a fantastic diver, but to help it swim underwater, its feet are placed towards the back of its body, making it rather clumsy on land. It only really comes ashore to breed.

Found in compost heaps and under stones in gardens, the flat-backed millipede is a common minibeast. It is an important recycler of nutrients, feeding on decaying matter.

The white admiral is a striking black-and-white butterfly with a delicate flight that includes long glides. It prefers shady woodlands where it feeds on bramble.