The Common Limpet (patella vulgata) may be abundant on UK shorelines but it has characteristics that are most definitely not 'common'.

It has a home

This is known as a 'scar'. You can see from the circular examples in the photograph why it gets that name. OK, the local ...

Gutweed (Ulva intestinalis) is a seaweed with a name that doesn't exactly get the gastric juices flowing. Don't be fooled. Once the long thin tubes are dried or deep fried, it makes a wonderful seasoning that can be sprinkled over salads and sushi.

I came across this patch on Boulmer beach. ...

On a horrible wet day last November I used 90 bare-root whips to plant a native hedge in a species mix approved by the RSPB as a potential home and food source for the local birds. A whip is basically a 600mm twig with no leaves and a rather sorry looking clutch of dried roots at one end. Their appearance ...

Looking at the photo above you may think it is simply a wild piece of wasteland. If you look more closely you will see it is a wild piece of wasteland in the corner of a field. This additional detail is important because it means the farmer has made a conscious decision to leave this area, and the ...