Biodiversity - This is a word that either no-one else has heard of or those in conservation are sick of hearing!  It's useful to sum up all living things in the world - plants and animals - including humans.  It also encompasses all the processes that link us together and enable us to exist together on this planet.  Unfortunately us humans have made such an impact on the world that some of this biodiversity is either endangered or our activities are reducing the earth's ability to produce the processes necessary for our survival.  If you want to find out more about biodiversity and what people are doing to conserve it try these sites:

	English Nature
	UK Biodiversity Action Plan
	Greater Manchester Biodiversity Action Plan

Below are some great sites for finding out more about what species and habitats make the UK so special.

Nature near you - You can find out about internationally and nationally protected wildlife sites by putting your postcode into this search engine.

Nature on the Map

Nature Webcams

	English Nature webcams - find out what's going on underwater at Lundy Island and see bats at Woodchester Mansion.
	Webcams on the Wirral - my current job covers the Wirral peninsula which has a varied and interesting range of wildlife from seals around Hilbre Island to the heathlands at Thurstaston and Heswall.
	Wirral's Barn Owl webcam -

Habitats and plants - ?????

	BioImages - Virtual Field Guide (UK) - this is a searchable database of a fantastic range of pictures of nearly every species you could wish for.
	ARKive - Images of Life on Earth

Bats - I have been undertaking surveys for bats over the last year.  Bats are still much misunderstood and much of their behaviour and ecology has yet to be learnt.  If you want to find out more try:

	The Bat Conservation Trust
	First Nature - an illustrated guide to bats in the UK and worldwide

Mosses & Lichens - I don't pretend to know a lot about either of these species groups however a little knowledge goes a long way.  Mosses are good indicators of the quality of different habitats such as heathlands and mires.  Lichens are useful for indicating the health of the air we breathe.  See my photo gallery for species photos. Some useful links are listed below. 

	Natural History Museum - "Lichens silent witnesses of air quality" and "Lichens on twigs"
	The British Lichen Society
	Mosses & Liverworts in Wales