This black and grey solitary bee takes to the wing in spring, when it can be seen buzzing around burrows in open ground.

The rare heath fritillary was on the brink of extinction in the 1970s, but conservation action turned its fortunes around. It is still confined to a small number of sites in the south of England,…

Although, commonly referred to as a ‘sea snail,’ this species in fact belongs to the fish family!

This small, round sea urchin is (unsurprisingly!) green in colour and can be found on rocky shores around the UK.

This colonial creature looks like an old-fashioned quill - that's where the name sea pen comes from.

The black sea bream really is a fascinating fish. From sex changes to nest building, this fish is full of surprises!

The lightbulb sea squirt is common around much of the UK. Its easy to see where its name came from!

Beavers are the engineers of the animal world, creating wetlands where wildlife can thrive. After a 400-year absence, beavers are back in Britain!

These mat like growths found on kelp and seaweed are actually colonies of tiny individuals animals.

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

These little critters are related to the woodlice you find in your garden and play a very important role on rocky shores.