The Raft Spider

We have been to Arne in Dorset this week and I photographed this beastie for the first time. Partly obscured by a Pine Cone but it helps give a size to the spider.

This is the uk's largest spider with the female very much larger than the male who has more distinctive markings. They will eat large flies, damselflies and even very small fish!
The female is up to 22mm whilst the male 10-13mm.
The female lays up to 1,000 eggs in two or more greenish sacs, the spiderlings are brownish at first but get darker as they grow.