Minke whale
The UK's smallest whale, the minke whale, is notoriously inquisitive around boats and is even known to breach clear of the water. Beware though - their fragrant breath has given them the…
Chwilio
Speckled wood butterfly - Vicky Nall
Chwilio
Common duckweed
The vast, green mats that sometimes cover the surface of still water, such as ponds, flooded gravel pits and old canals, are actually Common duckweed. A tiny, single plant, it groups together to…
My history book
Tim has volunteered at Astley Moss for five years, helping to increase the water levels on the bogs back to their historic healthy levels. He especially loves watching the birds return to this…
Brandt's bat
The small, shaggy-furred Brandt's bat roosts in all sorts of houses, old or modern. It is similar to the whiskered bat and they often roost together, but in separate colonies. It feeds low to…
Southern hawker
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…
Take the 12 Days Wild challenge
Join people across the country taking part in the 12 Days Wild challenge and get to know nature this winter.
Our turtle visitors
Big or small, freshwater or marine, turtles aren’t a very common sight here in the UK. However, an increase in storms and water temperatures has meant more sightings have been reported in recent…
Glaswelltir gosgeiddig tirlun carreg galch
Ymunwch â'r Swyddog Prosiect Craig Wade wrth iddo archwilio glaswelltiroedd calchfaen hynod ddiddorol Moel Hiraddug, sy’n cael ei adnabod fel Mynydd Dyserth – bryngaer o'r Oes Haearn,…
Raft spider
The chocolate-brown raft spider inhabits bogs and ponds. It can be spotted sitting near the water, its legs touching the surface. When it feels the vibrations of potential prey, it rushes out to…
Sphagnum moss
Sphagnum mosses carpet the ground with colour on our marshes, heaths and moors. They play a vital role in the creation of peat bogs: by storing water in their spongy forms, they prevent the decay…
Graceful grasslands of a limestone landscape
Join Project Officer, Craig Wade, as he explores the fascinating limestone grasslands of Moel Hiraddug, known as Dyserth Mountain – an Iron Age hillfort, also a former quarry, and now forming rare…
My memories
Richard used to work in the docks across the water from Thurrock Thameside Nature Park. Since his wife died, he likes to get away from the hustle and bustle, coming out with his dog to escape and…