Animal magic

There’s just a pig board between me and the lively grey seal barrelling towards me down the corridor. Tipping the scales at about 27kg, the pup – a young male called Bop It – already weighs as much as

England’s ‘Seabird City’ is one of the highlights on the 21-mile section of the King Charles III coastal path officially opened on Yorkshire’s east coast last year. Anna Haines discovers hidden gems along the cliffs, caves and coves of this coastal wildlife sanctuary

From a heroic long-distance swimmer to a producer of spectacularly eerie sound effects, the seabirds seen swooping and diving over British waters have all manner of singular skills, says John Lewis-Stempel

From snorkelling in crystal-clear Hebridean waters to hand-printing sea-inspired designs, Bonnie Wood’s life and art on the Isle of Islay capture the quiet beauty of island living

How to admire and protect our wonderful waterways in the UK

As high summer approaches, look out for – and help – these amazing creatures that you may find on your plot