Samantha Stocks
Sam is a freelance writer and editor with a passion for wildlife and the outdoors.
Recent articles by Samantha Stocks
"100 million years ago creatures living in a coastal lagoon, fringed by trees, had just had a sexual encounter when they would be entombed forever"
The astonishing 2020 discovery, found fossilised in amber in Myanmar, was hailed as a ‘spectacular find’ by scientists.
Meet the conservation heroes of 2021
The Whitley Awards celebrate the champions of grassroots wildlife conservation. Learn more about this year's seven winning conservationists and find out about their inspiring work.
Living With Mammals survey: what is it, and how to take part
Learn more about the People’s Trust for Endangered Species’ Living With Mammals survey, and help to shed light on the state of the UK’s mammals.
2020 was a great year for wildlife, says the RSPB
A new report reveals that wildlife fared well on RSPB reserves last year, in spite of Covid-19 restrictions.
Unpredictable weather sees mixed fortunes for UK wildlife in 2020
While 2020 was a turbulent year for many of us, how did the nation’s wildlife fare? The National Trust investigated how both lockdown and unpredictable weather affected nature in the UK, revealing which species did well, and which suffered.
PPE litter washing up on British beaches due to coronavirus pandemic
A concerning amount of PPE litter was found during this year’s Great British Beach Clean.
Extremely rare great fox-spiders rediscovered in Britain
Once thought to be extinct, one of Britain’s largest spiders has been seen in the country again for the first time in more than 25 years.
Vampire bats socially distance while sick, shows study
A new study has revealed that social distancing comes naturally to vampire bats when they feel unwell.
Critically endangered Loa water frogs given a lifeline in Chile
While there are fewer than 20 Loa water frogs left in the world, the hatching of 200 tadpoles at the National Zoo of Chile gives the species a chance of a future in the wild.
The Woodland Trust pledges to plant 50 million trees by 2025
The UK’s largest woodland conservation charity launches The Big Climate Fightback and urges the nation to take action to tackle climate change.
Threatened Mauritian reptiles rescued from disastrous oil spill
A number of rare and endangered reptiles found only on the islands of Mauritius have been rescued from a catastrophic oil spill, and rehomed with Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in Jersey.
Endangered African grey parrots rescued from wildlife traffickers
A shipment of eight endangered African grey parrots intended for the illegal wildlife market has been seized in Cameroon.
Large blue butterfly returns to Gloucestershire site after 150 years
The UK’s largest ever project to bring back the globally endangered large blue butterfly has been hailed a success, with the blues successfully breeding in the first year of their reintroduction on a Gloucestershire common.
Landmark decision gives wild beavers permanent right to remain in England
East Devon’s wild beaver population are set to stay, thanks to a decision announced today by Defra.
Help to create the first ever forest soundmap of the world
Timber Festival organisers are encouraging people across the world to contribute audio recordings to create the world’s first forest ‘soundmap’.
The Wildlife Trusts report devastation as visitors flock to reserves
Wildlife Trusts across the country have seen damage to reserves caused by an influx of visitors in the wake of lockdown restrictions easing.
Saving heather could help wild bees
Researchers have found that heather nectar provides a natural medicine that could protect wild bumblebees from disease, helping to prevent their decline.
Common blue butterfly numbers soar in heatwaves
The past 40 years has seen the common blue butterfly struggling in the UK, but now experts reveal that it could be making a comeback.
Robot cameras uncover the hidden world of basking sharks
In a first for UK marine conservation, underwater cameras have been used to observe the behaviour of basking sharks in the Inner Hebrides.
Tiger census reveals rapid growth of India’s wild tiger population
The census found 2,967 wild tigers across India in 2018, compared with 2,226 in 2014 — an increase of more than 30 per cent.
Scientists discover new shark species that glows in the dark
The American pocket shark is the only known specimen of its kind to have ever been found.
Funding from the National Lottery aims to save threatened sand dunes
The National Lottery has given £4 million to fund a new scheme aimed at reversing the decline of Europe’s most at-risk habitat.
When is Animals at Play on TV?
Find out why play is so much more than just fun and games for animals across the natural world, in this new two-part documentary.
London Wildlife Festival discount code for BBC Wildlife readers
Readers of BBC Wildlife are offered a special discount code for London’s first major wildlife festival.
