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Spring is a wonderful time of year to be getting outside. All around you nature is coming back to life after slowing down for the winter. Leaves are appearing, insects are hatching or coming out of hibernation, flowers are coming up and all sorts of animals are having babies. A lot of animals have babies...

It may not seem like it, but summer is on it's way. Our new WildSquare survey for May and June has just started, so put on your wellies and your raincoat and have a look around to see which summer bugs, birds and plants you can find. Will you be one of the first people to brave the elements and...

The clocks go forward this weekend. This makes a big difference to people but our local wildlife will be getting up at just the same time as normal. Clocks don't matter to wildlife but timing does. There is only one reason why people need to tell the time - planning. If you intend to do nothing all...

Normally hares are shy animals that you will be quite lucky to spot. This all changes in the spring though. Spring is the time of year when hares in the fields start to behave very strangely. That's why we use the phrase 'Mad as a March Hare'. Playing tag - You may see hares running around...

One of the most exciting times to go out looking for wildlife is the the hour before darkness. At this time of year this is around the time you've just finished your tea. So take a brave adult and go on a journey into the unknown. Most mammals are active at night , rather than during the day....

Our January / February WildSquare survey is nearly finished. You've still got just over a week to do the survey and submit your results. So if you haven't alredy done it, why not have a go over the weekend. Lots of you have taken part. The commonest birds to be seen on the survey are so far...

Water turns into ice when the temperature drops below 0 degrees Celsius (or freezing point) but what actually happens? Water is made up of miniscule pieces called molecules which are too small to be seen, even under a microscope. These molecules move around all the time while the temperature is above...

If you are feeling chilly this winter, imagine being a wild creature living outside. Or even and an animal in a country much colder than ours. 0 degrees Celsius: Water freezes. This is the average summer temperature at the North Pole. -1 degree Celsius: Antarctic fish swim in water this cold. They...

When you're on your own it's hare to keep an eye out all around you. When you are in a group, your friends can watch out in different directions. Some bird specides play safe by staying together in groups which can number thousands of individual birds. The alarm call of one bird can alert the...

Our WildSquare survey for January and February has just started. By completing this survey, you're not only finding out about nature for yourself, but you're also stepping up for nature. To find out more about the RSPB's Stepping up for Nature campaign click on the blue link. This season...

We all know that holly is a special winter plant for people to decorate thier homes with at Christmas. Did you know that it's special for mistle thrushes too? If you find a holly tree packed with bright red berries at this time of year, listen for a loud clacking sound. You can almost guarantee...

As we approach the winter solstice on the 22nd December the hours of daylight we have are steadily reducing. The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year (the day is actually the same length as any other it’s just that it’s darker for longer) after that the days will start to get longer...

Forget wildebeest migrations or the northern lights. Right now, right here in the UK starlings, geese, ducks, wagtails, rooks, waders and other birds are performing a natural spectacle above our heads. Winter is a brilliant time to watch flocking birds. The pulse, swell and grace of a flock of birds...

One of the most common things to find underneath a log or a rock is an earwig, and because of their name and their vicious looking pincers they are almost always met with a shriek of alarm. Which is a shame really because in actual fact earwigs are some of the most interesting mini-beasts we have here...

Fungi is the name we give to a group of organisms (an organism is any living thing such as a plant or animal). Types of fungi include mushrooms and toadstools, most moulds, lichen, and thousands of other strange things. In fact they're so different from any other living things that they are given...

The answer is almost certainly no (unless you count dolls houses). Squirrels can though, they can jump 6 metres in one leap. Squirrels are such common creatures that we often ignore them. Maybe you'll pay them a bit more attention once you've read this though. As well as being incredible leapers...