The Dolphin Inn, 12 Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings, East Sussex, tel: 01424 431 197

Two sailors were amazed when they woke to find a dead dolphin in the garden of their Dorset home - especially as they live on a steep hill half a mile from the sea.

Puffins, dolphins, sand lizards, seals - Ifunanya Ifeacho on the species to see and where

It appears that mass strandings are increasing, or are at least more widely reported

At least 21 dolphins died yesterday in the biggest mass stranding of marine animals in almost 30 years.

A major rescue operation was under way today after a pod of 15 dolphins became stranded in a river, causing many more to follow them.

Attacks by killer whales may be helping to drive the sudden and mysterious decline of seals around the northern coasts of Scotland, new research suggests.

The two beached whales were in distress. Rescuers had tried without success to push them back out to sea. It looked as if they would have to be put down. Then Moko the bottlenose dolphin appeared. In an incident that amazed conservationists, the dolphin – apparently responding to the whales' distress calls – led them to safety.

The future of Britain's most famous dolphins is at risk from oil and gas exploration, conservationists say.

Sense and Sensibility, BBC1; Jam and Jerusalem, BBC1

'The ideal night out for me is writing. I can write anywhere'

Regent Inns; C Salvesen

The growing popularity of whale watching is reflected in the latest travel brochure from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.

Ireland's new breed of nuns knows all about the ways of the world - some even have piercings. But do these thoroughly modern sisters have what it takes to save souls, wonders David McKittrick