Identification help

The following resources will help you identify some of the common British plants and animals.

Plants and fungi

Trees

Tree guide (PDF)

An illustrated guide to common trees. Part of the OPAL air survey.

Tree photo gallery

Hedgerow plants

Hedgerow guide (PDF)

An illustrated guide to common hedgerow plants.

Part of the OPAL biodiversity survey.

Duckweeds

Duckweed guide (PDF)

You'll find duckweeds floating on the surface of many ponds and lakes. Discover the six most common species.

Part of the OPAL water survey.

Seaweeds

Seaweed guide (PDF)

A guide to the common seaweeds you can find on the British coast.

Part of the Big Seaweed Search.

Lichens

OPAL lichens guide (PDF)

A simple guide to nine common lichens. Part of the OPAL air survey.

Advanced lichen key on the Key to Nature website

Minibeasts

Dragonflies and damselflies

Dragonfly guide (PDF)

A guide to the most common dragonflies and damselflies.

Part of the OPAL water survey.

Earthworms

Earthworm key (PDF)

A simple illustrated key to nine common British earthworms.

Part of the soil and earthworm survey.

Aquatic invertebrates

Aquatic invertebrates (PDF)

Water boatman or water beetle? Get to know the common aquatic invertebrates that may be living in your pond.

Part of the OPAL water survey.

Moths

Moth Tips 1 (PDF)

Tips on how to trap moths and useful tools available to identify them.

Moth Tips 2 (PDF)

A photographic guide to the families and common species of British moths.

Common invertebrates

Illustrated guide to invertebrate groups (PDF) - part of the OPAL biodiversity survey

Pocket invertebrate guide (PDF) - includes facts and ID tips. Part of the Bugs Count survey.

Natural History Museum bug gallery - explore images of common creepy crawlies

Other

Amphibians

Amphibians guide (PDF)

Know your frogs from your toads with this guide to common amphibians.

Part of the OPAL water survey.

Discover classification - teacher pack

Classification teacher pack (ZIP)

Aimed at Key Stage 3, this resource pack includes lesson plans to support the teaching of biological classification.

Still struggling? Identify anything and everything with help from these online communities

OPAL iSpot - Upload your wildlife pictures and a community of experts and enthusiasts will identify them.

Identification forums on the Natural History Museum website - Get help with identifying everything from fossils to birds.

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identification