Festive myths and folklore
Sophie Baker, communications officer at Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Wildlife Trust, explores our native species that have become enduring cultural symbols in festive myths…
Chwilio
Speckled wood butterfly - Vicky Nall
Chwilio
Japanese knotweed
Introduced from Japan in the 19th century, Japanese knotweed is now an invasive non-native plant of many riverbanks, waste grounds and roadside verges, where it prevents native species from…
Black snail beetle
This shiny beetle is common in wooded areas throughout the UK. As the name suggests, it specialises in hunting snails.
Knot grass
A common moth across most of the UK. The large, hairy caterpillars are often seen in late summer.
Small magpie
This distinctive moth is a common sight in gardens and around houses, where it's often attracted to lights.
Yellow-browed warbler
This charming little warbler is an increasingly common sight in autumn, when migrants pass through the UK.
Hen harrier
The hen harrier has been severely persecuted for taking game species and has suffered massive declines in numbers as a result. Thankfully, conservation projects are underway to reduce conflict…
Beached!
Beached! is a project which aims to map the species washed up on our beaches, especially the occasional mass accumulations of dead or dying sea life on our beach strandlines.
Contemplating Cemlyn
The fragility and tenuous chain of events that have allowed Cemlyn to be the only breeding Sandwich tern colony in Wales is an amazing story.
Avocet
A key species in the story of conservation, the avocet represents an amazing recovery of a bird once extinct in the UK. This pied bird, with its distinctive upturned bill, can now be seen on…
Marram grass
The dense, spiky tufts of Marram grass are a familiar sight on our windswept coasts. In fact, its matted roots help to stabilise sand dunes, allowing them to grow up and become colonised by other…
Lobster
A well known inhabitant of UK seas, common lobsters can reach up to 60cm in length.