Wildlife
Identify species, read the latest news stories and discover the best spots to see wildlife in Britain
It weighs the same as two grizzly bears and can be aged like a tree – meet the ocean giant that hurtles through UK waters
After being almost wiped out in the 1960s, this incredible marine creature fish is making a comeback
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.
"It was amazing": diver films mesmerising wildlife encounter in underwater meadow
Wildlife filmmaker Adam Radage says the experience was "like a dream straight out of a Studio Ghibli”
The summer invasion we all dread is here: The phenomenon of Flying Ant Day (and why it actually happens)
It might be called Flying Ant Day, but flying ants actually stay around longer than a single day. We explain everything you need to know about flying ants – and whether seagulls really get drunk eating too many of these winged insects
Warning: see brutal footage of rare carnivorous caterpillar in Gloucestershire that has a gruesome survival strategy
The footage was captured as part of the David Attenborough-narrated series Wild Isles
What's new?
These are the easiest ways to save water in your garden
As our summers become warmer and drier, it may be necessary for gardeners to change their habits. Our guide includes information on rainwater harvesting, when to water your garden and ways to make your garden more drought-resistant.
This huge toxic plant fully deserves its fearsome reputation, for not only is it invasive, it also causes nasty burns to your skin
What is giant hogweed, what do its flowers and leaves look like and is it poisonous? Find out all this and more with our guide to this enormous member of the umbellifer family
“They must cross a killing zone haunted by giant leeches”: David Attenborough narrates terrifying BBC footage of baby toad massacre
The footage was captured as part of filming for BBC One's Wild Isles, narrated by David Attenborough
Ash woodland is evolving resistance to ash dieback, say experts
Scientists say natural selection is helping the trees fight the deadly fungal disease, which has decimated forests across Britain and much of Europe.
Could rabies have entered Britain? British animal found with rare rabies-causing virus
Rabies-like virus discovered in British bat
Birds
Scientists strapped tiny data-gathering ‘backpacks’ to English nightingales – and discovered something worrying
A recent study reveals the truth about the English nightingale’s plight – and it has left scientists worried
'Sea parrot' cam: heartwarming livestream offers intimate glimpse inside puffin colony on remote Farne Islands
In celebration of caring for the Farne Islands for 100 years, the National Trust has shared a puffin livestream so people can watch the sweet birds from home.
A mosquito-borne virus is killing blackbirds in England – scientists are urging gardeners to help
The public's help is needed to survey the spread of a virus that targets blackbirds, say researchers from the British Trust for Ornithology.
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
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.
British seabirds: how to identify and where to see
Our guide explores some of the UK's most common types of seabird, where they live and the best places to see them.
Insects & invertebrates
The hermaphrodite slug with corkscrew penises as long as their bodies: Meet the world's biggest slug
The massive mollusc is one of the world’s largest land slugs – and surprisingly, it’s found here in the UK in our woodlands
“It's like bringing them back from the dead”: singing cicadas return to UK after three-decade absence
Once considered extinct, the New Forest cicada is back on British soil thanks to an ambitious reintroduction project.
What’s the most common spider in Britain?
While there are lots of commonly found species of spider in the UK, there’s one that’s more likely to darken your doorstep…
Mammals
One of Britain's rarest and CUTEST animals to be reintroduced to Leicestershire for the first time ever
A landmark conservation effort is underway to restore hazel dormice to their former range around the UK
Moose vs elk – what’s the difference between these two giant deer?
Are moose and elk the same animal or different species entirely? We clear up the confusion on the peculiar naming conventions of these two large deer species
“As I got closer, I saw its tail": astonished gardener finds large animal in pond
Kerry Irwin-Hall had snuck out at dawn in the hope of seeing ducks nesting, but what she spotted was even more amazing.
Marine life
"So unbelievable”: ancient sea creature filmed off Devon coast
Leatherback turtles have the longest migration of any reptile and are known to swim in UK seas.
Rare ocean giant as big as a king-size bed spotted in Orkney
Flapper skates can grow over 2.5 metres long and weigh as much as 100kg.
9 breathtaking underwater photos from around the British Isles
Hold your breath and drop beneath the waves with these magical marine images.
Trees & plants
This foul-smelling plant is so deadly it was used to execute condemned prisoners in ancient Greece
What is hemlock, what makes it so poisonous, and how do you identify it? Find out all this and more with our guide to this highly toxic member of the umbellifer family
Ancient tree 'older than Stonehenge' found in English bog
The 5,000-year-old tree, dug up during restoration works at Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire, offers a rare and remarkable glimpse into Britain’s past, say experts.
This giant "horror movie" plant can cause skin burns and blindness – and it's taking over the UK
It lies in wait for the unwary and can cause serious skin burns, ulcers, even blindness. Richard Baynes reports from the frontline of the battle against giant hogweed, an invasive plant that’s remarkably hard to kill
Where to see
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
Best places to go fossil hunting in the UK: these are the best spots to unearth prehistoric gems
From the Jurassic Coast to North Yorkshire's crumbling east shores, our guide explores the best beaches in the UK to find fossils
Common UK fossils: Discover the treasures beneath your feet
There are many different types of fossils that can be found on UK shores. In this guide, we reveal 10 of the most common fossils to look out for on your next trip to the beach
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
