Green sea urchin
This small, round sea urchin is (unsurprisingly!) green in colour and can be found on rocky shores around the UK.
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©Andrew Parkinson/2020VISION
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Edible sea urchin
This large round urchin is sometimes found in rockpools, recognisable by its pink spiky shell (known as a test).
Hidden Peat Images
Hidden Peat Images
Identify sea urchins
Sea urchins are echinoderms, related to starfish, sea cucumbers and brittle stars. Their scientific name "Echinus" comes from the Greek word for hedgehog - it's easy to see why with all those spines! But what species live in UK waters and how do you tell them apart? Here’s our guide on identifying 3 common species of sea urchin found around our coasts.
Why is the sea salty and why is the sea blue
Why is the sea salty and why is the sea blue? Answering questions on the sea
Green-winged orchid
A short, but pretty plant of unimproved grasslands, the Green-winged orchid gets its name from the green veins in the 'hood' of its flowers. Look for it in May and June.
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…
Local Wildlife Sites
Local Wildlife Sites are areas of land especially important for their wildlife. They are some of our most valuable wildlife areas.
Sea lettuce
Sea lettuce is unmistakeable - most often a bright green and always translucent, it is found on all UK coasts.
Early purple orchid
The Early purple orchid is one of the first orchids to pop up in spring. Look for its pinkish-purple flowers from April, when bluebells still carpet our woodland floors. Its leaves are dark green…
At sea
From microscopic plankton to mighty whales, half our wildlife lives in the sea. But decades of over-exploitation has led to declines, which The Wildlife Trusts are working to reverse.
Green hairstreak
The green hairstreak is the UK's only green butterfly. Look out for the vibrant, metallic sheen of the undersides of its wings on grassland and moorland, and along woodland rides.