Spiny lobster, crawfish, crayfish, rock lobsters - many names, one animal! This pretty lobster was made extinct in many areas through overfishing, but is now making a slow comeback.

A common spider of heathland and grassland, the Nursery web spider has brown and black stripes running the length of its body. It is an active hunter, only using its silk to create a protective…

A well known inhabitant of UK seas, common lobsters can reach up to 60cm in length.

Native Oysters are a staple of our seas and our plates - but our love of their taste has lead to a sharp decline all around the UK.

A bizarre half lobster/half crab, this squat lobster is one of the true stunners of the rocky shore!

Oyster mushrooms are shell shaped fungi that grow in tiers or fabulous clusters on dead trees or stumps. Unlike many fungi, these mushrooms are not seasonal and can be found all year round,…

The Common osier is a small willow tree that is found in fens and ditches, and on riverbanks. It has been widely cultivated and coppiced for its twigs, which are used in traditional basket-making…

The sinuous otter is an excellent swimmer and can be seen hunting in wetlands, rivers and along the coast - try the west coast of Scotland, West Wales, the West Country or East Anglia for the best…

Despite its name, the great spider crab is actually smaller than the more common European spider crab.

The Great diving beetle is a large and voracious predator of ponds and slow-moving waterways. Blackish-green in colour, it can be spotted coming to the surface to replenish the air supply it…

This is a predominantly subtidal species but can be found on the lowest parts of a sheltered rocky shore in summer.