Wildlife
Identify species, read the latest news stories and discover the best spots to see wildlife in Britain
Scuba diver spots bizarre and beautiful sea creatures off Sussex coast
The waters are thriving with an array of marine animals thanks to improved protections, says a researcher who spent hours underwater.
Retired GP discovers new species of sail-backed dinosaur on Isle of Wight
A new iguanodontian dinosaur, named Istiorachis macarthurae, has been identified on the Isle of Wight and it’s unlike any that has been found before…
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025: bellowing stag among 15 spectacular sneak-peek images
Glowing jellyfish, soaring bats and an elegant flamingo also feature in this stunning selection of preview images from Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025.
This pocket-sized speaker might be your new favourite outdoor companion
We review the Tribit StormBox Micro 2 Portable Speaker to see how it stands up to the competition
Amazingly this baby animal can call its parents from inside the egg
What's new?
“Rare and breathtaking”: bright blue sharks stun snorkellers in Pembrokeshire
During summer, you can see these spectacular blue sharks swimming calmly through UK waters.
Do 'killer bees' deserve their deadly, notoriously aggressive reputation? Are they really more dangerous than the average honeybee?
Ocean giants: 10 of the UK’s most colossal sea creatures
Think large ocean animals only live in foreign waters? Think again! You can see huge sharks, whales and turtles right here on our coastlines, says Melissa Hobson.
Bigger than your thumb and armed with monster jaws: Meet the world’s largest bee – nicknamed the ‘Flying Bulldog'
This enormous black bee is almost 5cm long
Scientists stunned to find birds 'talk' in code – and astonishingly it's the same code we use
Birds talk just like us say scientists
Birds
Could white storks return to London?
Conservationists ask residents for their views on mooted plans to reintroduce these long-legged birds to the capital.
Scientists attach GPS tags to gulls on Scottish island to find out how far they go to survive
A new study tracks gulls on the Isle of May, uncovering how habitat change is shaping their foraging habits and future survival.
It weighs as much as house cat, has a wingspan the size of an average door and can hit 100 miles per hour when hunting - that's one formidable predator
White-tailed eagles, also known as sea eagles, are the UK's largest bird of prey. Our guide reveals how to identify white-tailed eagles, where to see them, and interesting facts about the species.
Crustaceans
Are there any killer whales in UK waters?
Did you know there are just two individuals remaining in the UK’s resident orca population, which will soon go extinct?
Crab vs lobster: what’s the difference between the common shore crab and the common lobster - and how do you tell them apart?
Lobsters and crabs are often mistaken for each other. Carys McMillan explains how to tell two of our most common species - the shore crab and European lobster - apart
Tragic mass stranding leaves 77 pilot whales dead in Orkney
The reason for one of the biggest mass strandings in Scottish history is currently a mystery, says Mel Hobson
Dinosaurs
Fungi
How to identify
This pretty flower is essential for pollinating insects, yet deadly for livestock – causing severe, irreversible damage to the liver
Is ragwort dangerous to humans or animals? Learn what it is, where it can be found, its benefits for wildlife and the dangers associated with it in our expert ragwort guide.
Don’t mistake deadly invasive hornet for native endangered insect that mimics it, warn experts
As reports of the invasive Asian hornet increase, gardeners are being urged to distinguish it from the endangered hoverfly
Britain's rarest flowers: The beautiful, hidden flora that could disappear from our country
Our countryside is home to a huge range of flowers, some much harder to find than others – here is a selection of Britain's rarest flowers, including how to identify and the threats that they face.
Insects & invertebrates
There's a wasp boom in the UK. Here's what's causing it
Unusually warm and dry spring causes wasp surge across the UK, leading to earlier, larger colonies than in recent years.
Could any deadly or nasty bugs arrive in UK due to climate change?
Will there be another 'invasion' of 'biting' ladybirds like in the summer of 1976?
Footage of swarming ladybirds has been going viral this summer – with experts saying that many more are appearing this year in contrast to previous ones.
Mammals
This odd kangaroo-like animal is native to Australia – but it's been spotted roaming wild on a Scottish island
Surely the UK doesn't have any wallabies? Well, you may be surprised...
Where are big cats roaming wild in the UK? We take a look at the leopards and pumas supposedly on the run
We take a look at the big cats - both real and legend – that have roamed the wilds of the UK
Could rabies have entered Britain? British animal found with rare rabies-causing virus
Rabies-like virus discovered in British bat
Marine life
Shocking surge in cetacean deaths: New report reveals marine crisis unfolding on Scotland’s shores
Exponential increases in whale and dolphin strandings in Scotland has scientists concerned about future
Who is Reggie the dolphin and how should people behave around him?
Conservation experts recommend that people join a responsible whale or dolphin watching trip rather than trying to swim with Reggie – a bottlenose dolphin that has become a regular visitor to waters around Lyme Regis in Dorset this summer.
It's not only the biggest animal in the world today, it is the biggest animal to have ever lived – and can be seen in UK waters
Blue whales, the largest animals ever to live on Earth, are occasionally sighted off Scotland and Cornwall – despite being decimated by commercial whaling in previous centuries
Trees & plants
It's incredibly fast growing, notoriously invasive and known as the demolisher of houses - but how true is this plant's deadly reputation?
Initially introduced as an ornamental plant due to its attractive appearance, Japanese knotweed has become a botanical bully.
10 dangerous weeds: If these criminal weeds are in your garden, or on your land, you could find yourself in legal trouble
We take a look at some dangerous weeds that could cost your pocket
"Cutting down the Sycamore Gap tree was an act of spite". Did “resentful cynicism” drive the guilty two or was it for "bragging rights and trophy-hunting”?
The felling of the Sycamore Gap Tree
appalled and saddened millions. Yet, as
Fergus Collins discovers, hope can spring
from the darkest ecological tragedies
Where to see
From Robin Hood's hideout to a tree that's worth nearly one million pounds, here are the UK's most famous trees
A selection of the strangest, most significant and best-known ancient trees growing in the UK’s forests, parks and gardens.
It's the size of a double-decker bus and weighs a mighty 7 tonnes. Meet the ocean giant that swims - rather leisurely it must be said – through UK waters
Get to know the world's second largest fish with our guide to Britain's basking sharks, including facts about the species and the best places to see them in the UK.
The UK's best and most beautiful heathlands for wildlife - including some that are home to the world's rarest insects
\these beautiful heathlands are well worth a visit
Wildlife stories
What’s the most common butterfly species in the UK?
While it’s an ever-changing statistic, we introduce you to the most abundant butterfly species – and which country holds the title for having the most butterflies
Astonishing BBC footage shows rescue puppies helping raise adorable orphaned baby chimps in West Africa –proving dogs aren't just man's best friend
At a sanctuary in Liberia, a group of devoted dogs are stepping up as unlikely carers to help raise orphaned chimpanzees
