The tiny, brown-and-white sand martin is a common summer visitor to the UK, nesting in colonies on rivers, lakes and flooded gravel pits. It returns to Africa in winter.

Sometimes called 'Wild spinach', Sea beet can be cooked and eaten. It grows wild on shingle beaches, cliffs and bare ground near to the sea, as well as in saltmarshes.

A large colourful sea slug found on rocky shores around the UK.

If you happen to be near rocky places such as sea cliffs, shingle coastlines or even gravel paths during the summer months you will most likely come across sea campion.

As its name suggests, the house martin can be spotted nesting in the eaves of houses in our towns and villages. Its intricate mud nests take days to build and are often returned to and used in…

This dashing diving duck is a winter visitor to the UK's seas, coastal lakes and occasionally inland water bodies.

Sea lettuce is unmistakeable - most often a bright green and always translucent, it is found on all UK coasts.

As its name suggests, Sea spurge is found at the coast. It is an attractive plant that displays cup-shaped, greeny-yellow flowers and fleshy, grey-green leaves.

A small colourful sea slug that can be found grazing on sea mats on the rocky shore and beyond the low water mark.