Our only venomous snake, the shy adder can be spotted basking in the sunshine in woodland glades and on heathlands.

These large seals can often be seen bobbing in the sea or lying on beaches waiting for their food to go down.

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

A breeding bird of fast-flowing, upland rivers, the grey wagtail can also be seen in lowland areas, farmyards and even towns in winter.

The delightful fragrance of wild thyme can punctuate a summer walk over a chalk grassland. It forms low-growing mats with dense clusters of purple-pink flowers.

This elegant wading bird is a rare visitor to the UK, though occasionally one or two of pairs will nest here.

This wading bird is mainly a visitor on its spring and autumn migration, though a small number nest in Scotland.

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!

Selfheal is a low-growing, creeping plant that likes the short turf of grasslands, roadside verges or even lawns. Its clusters of violet flowers appear in summer.