Identification guides and keys
A bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, in the Museum's wildlife garden. Our identification guides illustrate the difference between this species and the Spanish bluebell, Hyacinthoides hispanica.
There are thousands of species of wildlife in the UK and many of them can be seen in your garden, local park or nearby woodland. Follow the Museum's easy-to-use guides to help identify the plants and creatures you find.
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Identify trees
Identify your trees with the help of our interactive key, factsheets on the most common UK trees, and other guidance.
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Leafsnap UK app
Our free app for iPhone, Leafsnap UK, offers leaf recognition technology and high-resolution images to help you identify 156 UK tree species.
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British bumblebee identification guide
This easy-to-use key will help you identify British bumblebees by looking at their colour patterns.
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Lichens
Explore the amazing diversity of lichens and find out why they are the canaries of the fungal world.
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Identify British earthworms
Familiarise yourself with the common British earthworm species - their characteristics, what they eat and where they live.
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Identify your bluebells
Find out whether your bluebells are native bluebells, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, or non-native species, by looking at the colour of the pollen and the shape of the flower.
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Woodlouse identification key
This simple key will help you to identify the woodlice that you are most likely to find.
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Identification forums
Have you found a fossil on the seashore or a spider in your bathroom and you don't know what it is? Our experts can help - just ask them a question in the forum.
