The Common sexton beetle is one of several burying beetle species in the UK. An undertaker of the animal world, it buries dead animals like mice and birds, and feeds and breeds on the corpses.

Their long narrow shells are a common sight on our shores, especially after storms, but the animals themselves live buried in the sand.

Found in compost heaps and under stones in gardens, the flat-backed millipede is a common minibeast. It is an important recycler of nutrients, feeding on decaying matter.

Large scale drainage in the UK has seen a massive reduction in the range of this sensitive aquatic plant which now only occurs in around 50 sites in England.

Water-plantain is an aquatic plant of shallow water and muddy banks. In bloom over summer, it displays tall branches of loosely clustered, pale lilac flowers.

These mat like growths found on kelp and seaweed are actually colonies of tiny individuals animals.

This brightly-coloured beetle is often found feeding on flowers on warm days in late spring and summer.

These bulky beetles can sometimes be found on flowers in woodland rides or along hedgerows.