Wildlife
Identify species, read the latest news stories and discover the best spots to see wildlife in Britain
Chatterboxes: bats not only sing for love, but also for food and attention - and possibly gossip
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
No Mow May 2025: Why it's time to let the weeds grow
Want to help the wildlife in your garden? All you have to do this month is… nothing. Welcome to No Mow May 2025
What's the most common mammal in Britain? It outnumbers humans but you've probably never seen one
With an estimated population of 75 million, this unassuming rodent quietly dominates Britain’s wild spaces – yet many of us have never even spotted one.
Extremely rare spider spotted in London for the first time ever
It's only the fourth time the species has been recorded in the UK in the past 30 years.
What's new?
“The largest common stingrays I have ever seen have been here in Sussex" – scuba diver shares incredible underwater footage
These hefty marine animals can measure almost a metre across.
Do birds have ears?
How are birds able to hear so well? Sheena Harvey investigates
Why London's blackbirds are dying – and how you can 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.
What's the most common bird in Britain?
With an estimated 11 million breeding pairs, this little common garden bird has soared to the top of the charts
Why does the UK have yellow birds?
What affects a bird's plumage colour? Why are some birds yellow? Mike Toms explains
Birds
Here are the 7 best places to go birdwatching in London – according to a birding expert
Even in the UK’s largest urban expanses, birdsong can be heard rising above the humdrum of city life – we reveal some of the best places in the London to see and hear birdlife.
Can a swan really break your arm?
We've heard the myths... but are they true? Swans are powerful birds, but could they actually break your arm?
Why do birds sing in the morning?
The dawn chorus is a beautiful sound but why does it take place in the morning?
Crustaceans
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
Crayfish claws back: how scientists hope to save one of the UK’s most endangered native species
Thanks to a new conservation breeding programme, we might hear the pitter patter of tiny claws in Hampshire.
Dinosaurs
How to identify
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.
Raven vs crow: what's the difference between these birds and how can you tell them apart?
Do you know the difference between a carrion crow and a raven? Fergus Collins explains the difference between these similar-looking birds.
Spring blossom is out now - here's how to identify it
As light flows slowly back into our woodlands and hedgerows, once-bare branches begin to bloom again. It's blossom season – but how do you tell the difference between blackthorn and hawthorn, rowan and wild cherry?
Insects & invertebrates
2024 was one of the worst years on record for butterflies, new data shows – here’s why
A butterfly emergency has been announced, following one of the worst-ever years of the Big Butterfly Count.
10 terrifying and gruesome insects, including one that liquifies its prey’s innards and sucks them dry
Grisly horror film with a bloodthirsty plot, or just another bug-eat-bug day in the undergrowth? Gail Ashton shines a light on the brutal world of our carnivorous mini-beasts
This imposter flicks parasitic maggots into bee nests and is often confused with a mosquito – meet this extraordinary insect
Despite appearances, the bee-fly isn't actually a bee – and it's developed a rather gruesome way to ensure its survival.
Mammals
Rats vs mice: what's the differences between these two often-maligned rodents (and how to tell them apart)
Though closely related, rats and mice have several key differences – and they're easy to spot if you know what to look for
Thrilling video shows hares having a boxing match, a fascinating phenomenon that (surprisingly) isn't just a battle between the blokes
It might look like a classic courtship display, but it's surprsingly the females who instigate these gripping battles
Watch super-cute, adorable fox cubs mischievously playing rough and tumble in the sun
Who can resist these two fox cubs?
Marine life
Boater films magical dolphin encounter in Sussex
The playful dolphins approached the boat off the coast of Brighton and leapt through the water, bow riding in the waves.
This lethal predator is the most venomous in the ocean – and rising temperatures could drive them to the UK…
While this deadly marine animal is commonly found in Australia and the Indo Pacific, rising sea temperatures could force it to migrate to cooler waters.
It’s smarter than a toddler, ‘hypnotises’ prey and impersonates females to trick love rivals – meet this clever marine creature
These intelligent invertebrates are incredible illusionists and have better self-control than a toddler.
Trees & plants
A new national forest: 20 million trees to be planted in west of England by 2050
The Western Forest – the UK's first national forest for 30 years – will cover up to 50,000 hectares, stretching from the Cotswolds to the Mendips.
Snake heads and bleeding hearts: These are Britain's weirdest flowers
The UK is home to some truly bizarre blooms, from eerie ghost orchids to flowers that look like bees. Some of these plants are rare and elusive, while others could even thrive in your garden
Do trees have feelings? We investigate the radical claims of Peter Wohlleben’s ‘The Hidden Life of Trees’
Are tees talking to each another via vast underground fungal networks? Sara Maitland explores the fascinating claims of author Peter Wohlleben
Where to see
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
Best winter wildlife spectacles in the UK
The short, sparkling days and long, cold nights of winter are perfect for wildlife watching. But which species of animal can be seen and heard in winter, and where are the best places in the UK to experience winter wildlife spectacles?
Wildlife stories
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Top 10 most intelligent wild animals in Britain
Some wild birds and beasts of the British Isles are suprisingly smart, appreciating fine art, navigating by the stars and even saving other animal's lives. We bet you won't believe number 5
Britain's most endangered animal species: Discover the rarest creatures in the UK
Some once-common native species are disappearing from the British countryside – our guide looks at 17 of the most endangered animal species in the UK that have suffered acute declines in recent years.