This large shrike visits the UK in small numbers each year, passing through on migration or spending the winter here.

A tall plant, purple-loosestrife can form dense stands of bright purple flower spikes in wet habitats like reedbeds, fens and marshes.

This large burrowing bivalve, also known as the Icelandic cyprine, is found on sandy seabeds around much of the UK. It is the longest-lived animal known to man, with one individual found to be 507…

Edible periwinkles are a common sight when rockpooling and can be found in huge numbers on the shore.

This distinctive moth is a common sight in gardens and around houses, where it's often attracted to lights.

The common octopus is a highly intelligent, active predator. It even has a secret weapon - special glands produce a venom that it uses to incapacitate its prey!

A tall and robust species of sedge, the Great fen-sedge has long leaves with sawtooth edges. It forms dense stands in lowland fens and around lakes.

This small, white heron is an increasingly common sight in parts of the UK as it spreads north from continental Europe.

This pretty, speckled moth is now a rare sight, found only in a few parts of southern England.