Wildlife explorer

Want to learn more about wildlife near you? You're in the right place, search below and discover the nature you can help protect in Kent.

Scarlet tiger moth
©Malcolm Storey
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Scarlet tiger moth

This beautiful moth is often found resting on leaves, though it does also fly during the day.

Scorpion Fly
Amy Lewis
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Scorpion fly

The scorpion fly, as its name suggests, has a curved 'tail' that looks like a sting. It is, in fact, the males' claspers for mating. It is yellow and black, with a long 'beak'. Look for it in gardens and woods.

A Scotch argus butterfly resting on a leaf, its brown wings open showing the orange patches and black-bordered white spots

Scotch argus

As the name suggests, this beautiful brown butterfly is most common in Scotland, though it can also be seen in northern England.

Scots pine

The Scots pine is the native pine of Scotland and once stood in huge forests. It suffered large declines, however, as it was felled for timber and fuel. Today, it is making a comeback - good news for the wildlife that depends on it.

©Bas Kers
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Sea beet

Sometimes called 'Wild spinach', Sea beet can be cooked and eaten. It grows wild on shingle beaches, cliffs and bare ground near to the sea, as well as in saltmarshes.

Sea campion

If you happen to be near rocky places such as sea cliffs, shingle coastlines or even gravel paths during the summer months you will most likely come across sea campion.

Sea hare

The sea hare looks like a sea slug – but in fact has an internal shell. They can be up to 20cm long but are usually much shorter.

Sea lemon

A large colourful sea slug found on rocky shores around the UK.

Sea lettuce

Sea lettuce is unmistakeable - most often a bright green and always translucent, it is found on all UK coasts.

Sea mat

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

Sea mouse

This strange furry creature often found washed ashore after storms is actually a kind of worm!

Sea potato

Sea potatoes may have a funny name, but they are perfectly adapted for life in the sand. They are a type of sea urchin that live in a burrow in the sand, feeding on dead animals and plants using their tube feet!