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'Neither fish nor flesh': The beguiling world of the otter
A creature of bewitching contrasts, the otter is ‘an animal that might have been specifically designed to please a child’ and has captured our imaginations since first we encountered its bright-eyed gaze.
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The Legacy: Arthur Hobhouse and the creation of our national parks
Legendarily beautiful, Hobhouse chaired the committee that prepared the legislation to create national parks in 1949, with the first, the Peak District, established in 1951.
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Britain has 763 different types of moss — and they're varied, distinctive and strikingly beautiful
As special as orchids, as beautiful as bluebells and as important as oaks, our ground-hugging mosses are worth a look down, says naturalist and author Mark Cocker.
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Rarer than pandas: Meet the native breeds that have a crucial role to play in food security and conservation
Some treasured native farm animals have fallen dangerously low in numbers. Kate Green meets the breeders keeping the flame alive.
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Curious Questions: Why do so many animals have bright white bottoms?
Why do so many animals have such obviously flashy appendages, asks Laura Parker, as she examines scuts, rumps and rears.
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There are 200 chalkstreams in the world, almost all are in England, and they're the most biodiverse freshwater habitat on the planet
Chalkstreams were forged millions of years ago when Europe was largely underwater and developed into unique and complex habitats that we must consider national treasures, says Charles Rangeley-Wilson.
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'Water was coming in through the roof, the windows and the stone walls. It caused mushrooms to grow in the bedrooms, and sizeable bits of the ceiling to detach themselves without notice'
Water, water everywhere for Jonathan Self — especially in the places where you'd least want to have it.
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The 1930s eco-warrior who inspired David Attenborough and The Queen, only to be unmasked as a hoaxer and 'pretendian' — but his message still rings true
Martin Fone tells the astonishing story of Grey Owl, who became a household name in the 1930s with his pioneering calls to action to save the environment — using a false identity to do so.
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What's in a colour? The mystery behind our obsession with green
The human eye can detect more shades of green than any other colour and they are matched by a bewildering variety of names, discovers Lucien de Guise
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Curious Questions: Why do all of Britain's dolphins and whales belong to the King?
More species of whale, dolphin and porpoise can be spotted in the UK than anywhere else in northern Europe and all of them, technically, belong to the Monarch. Ben Lerwill takes a look at one of our more obscure laws and why the animals have such an important role to play in the fight against climate change.
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Curious Questions: Do dock leaves really cure nettle stings?
Renowned as a ‘land robber’, docks don’t have much going for them, other than alleviating nettle stings — but do they really work? John Wright heroically finds out.
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From oinking fugitives to ecological engineers: How wild boars have re-established themselves in our woodland and what to do if they try and steal your shopping
Once a common sight for our Neolithic ancestors, the wild boar was hunted to extinction. Now, in places such as the Forest of Dean, they are slowly returning.
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The cosmos, as you have never seen it before
This year's shortlist for the Astronomy Photographer of the Year has been released, and the images are truly out of this world.
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The Big Butterfly Count is here — time to get out into the garden and do your bit
Do your bit to save the butterflies of Britain.
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Iridescence: The greatest special effect in Nature
A lustrous play of colour alchemy, natural iridescence can intrigue, camouflage and incite desire. Laura Parker immerses herself in one of Nature’s greatest special effects.
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The truth about rewilding, by seven of Britain's most influential farmers, landowners and conservationists
Although the term 'rewilding' is contentious, most agree that our countryside could be better managed for wildlife. Yet what should we actually be doing to improve it?
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Curious Questions: When does summer actually start?
You'd think it would be simple. It's anything but, as Martin Fone discovers.
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Honeysuckle: The woodbine with a scent so powerful it would inspire erotic dreams
Much has been written about the honeysuckle, of which little is true. What is it about the fragrant Lonicera that inspires such absurd conjecture, wonders Ian Morton.
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The wildlife safaris you can take without even leaving Britain, from puffins and golden eagles to dolphins and deer
The word ‘safari’ may evoke lions and Land Cruisers, but you’ll never run out of wildlife-based thrills on these shores. From seabird skyscrapers to ostentatious otters and rutting red deer, Ben Lerwill discovers the best British Nature trips on offer.
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Curious Questions: Were Mallory and Irvine the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest?
It’s now 100 years since George Mallory and Andrew ‘Sandy’ Irvine disappeared high on Everest; speculation about their achievements has been rife ever since. Robin Ashcroft takes a broad perspective
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How to eat nettles without being stung, by expert forager John Wright
The nettle is probably the first plant most of us can remember, thanks to its harsh sting, but it's also delicious deep fried and useful as a natural medicine.
