The barbastelle is a scarce bat that lives in woodland and forages over a wide area. It has a distinctive 'pug-like' appearance because of its upturned nose.

A common dragonfly of ponds, lakes and canals near woodland, the southern hawker can be seen patrolling the water or 'hawking' through woodland rides. A fast-flying species, it will…

These bulky beetles can sometimes be found on flowers in woodland rides or along hedgerows.

The rose chafer can be spotted on garden flowers, as well as in grassland, woodland edges and scrub.

Mainly found in southern and eastern England, the common hornbeam is a tall tree of ancient woodlands. Its large catkins appear in spring, and its winged seeds are dispersed by the wind in autumn…

The common spotted-orchid is the easiest of all our orchids to see: sometimes, so many flowers appear together that they create a pale pink carpet in our woodlands, old quarries, dunes and marshes…

This beautiful beetle is fond of damp meadows and woodland rides, where it's often found on umbellifers or thistles.

Look for wood avens along hedgerows and in woodlands. Its yellow flowers appear in spring and provide nectar for insects; later, they turn to red, hooked seedheads that can easily stick to a…

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