Thick topshell
The thick topshell is a common sight on rocky shores in Wales and South West England.
The thick topshell is a common sight on rocky shores in Wales and South West England.
The Common fragrant-orchid lives up to its name: it produces a sweet, orangey smell that is very strong in the evening. Look for its densely packed, pink flower spikes on chalk grasslands in…
The fly-shaped flowers of this fascinating plant are attractive to insects - but not the ones you might expect!
This beautiful beetle only arrived in the UK in 1960s but is now a common sight on garden herbs.
The brimstone moth is a yellow, night-flying moth with distinctive brown-and-white spots on its angular forewings. It frequently visits gardens, but also likes woods, scrub and grasslands.
A ferocious and agile predator, the green tiger beetle hunts spiders, ants and caterpillars on heaths, grasslands and sand dunes. It is one of our fastest insects and a dazzling metallic green…
Edible periwinkles are a common sight when rockpooling and can be found in huge numbers on the shore.
Stone curlews are unusual waders with large yellow eyes - perfect for hunting beetles at night.
The nodding, blue bells of the harebell are a summer delight of grasslands, sand dunes, hedgerows and cliffs. They are attractive to all kinds of insects, too.
Look for the pinky-white flowers of the dog-rose in summer, and its bright red rosehips in autumn. It is a scrambling shrub of hedgerows, woodlands and grasslands.
Look out for the bright red eyes of this speedy crab in rockpools - but be careful, they're notoriously feisty and will give a painful nip!
The largest of the UK wrasse species, the ballan wrasse with its striking patterning is a delight for any rocky reef snorkeller or shallow water diver!