Skip to main content

The charity making life better by water

Making life better by water

Wildlife blogs and features

Find out all about waterway wildlife by browsing through our blogs and features.

25 things to see and do in 2025
A new year brings the opportunity for new experiences. From wildlife spotting to paddleboarding, our canals and rivers offer an abundance of things to see and do. What will you discover in 2025?
Fri Dec 20 2024
Winter foraging for festive foods and drinks
November and December might seem too late in the calendar year to harvest fruits, but there are plenty of winter foraging opportunities along our canals and rivers.
Fri Nov 22 2024
Foraging for festive decorations along canals and rivers
Winter foraging can yield beautiful and festive décor to turn your home into a natural wonderland this Christmas.
Tue Nov 19 2024
9 insects to find on your local canal
They may be small, but these creepy crawlies are a vital part of our ecosystem. From bright blue butterflies to bees that burrow beneath the ground, what can you spot from the towpath?
Fri Nov 15 2024
Bird identification guide: 18 species to spot
Even if you can’t see them, our canals are busy with wildlife foraging for food, finding shelter and performing elaborate courtship displays.
Thu Nov 07 2024
8 tips to spot an otter in the wild
These shy mammals are notoriously hard to spot but worth it when you do. You will most likely find them along our canals and rivers or on other wetlands. Follow our tips to see an otter in the wild.
Thu Oct 10 2024
How to identify snakes in the UK
There are three native snakes in the UK: grass snakes, adders, and smooth snakes. If you’re by our canals and rivers, you’re most likely to spot the shy grass snake – a pro swimmer and water lover.
Wed Oct 02 2024
Is it a grasshopper or a cricket?
Each summer, grasshoppers and crickets fill the countryside with their songs as they skip, hop and jump in the warm sun. Read our guide to learn the differences between grasshoppers and crickets.
Fri Sep 27 2024
How can you tell a newt from a lizard?
Despite being from different families and habitats, these cold-blooded animals are regularly confused. Our guide separates the newts from the lizards so you can tell these small creatures apart.
Tue Sep 24 2024
Take our water vole quiz
How much do you know about the well-loved water vole? Take our quiz to find out.
Mon Sep 23 2024

1 / 5

Last Edited: 22 November 2024

photo of a location on the canals

Sign up to our monthly newsletter and be the first to hear about campaigns, upcoming events and fundraising inspiration