Hertfordshire Natural History Society ~ Making the most of your nature records in Herfordshire
Hertfordshire Natural History Society  
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Hertfordshire Naturalist 2011 published

 Our 2011 edition is now available packed with interesting papers about our County's wildlife, news from the  recorders and our annual report. Full colour throughout.

It was mailed to subscribing HNHS members on 14 November and is available to purchase.

Follow the link for more details

 

HNHS Christmas Cards 2011

 Support HNHS and buy our Chritmas cards. Delightful photos by Steve Carter

 

Autumn Meeting and AGM

Saturday 12 November at Woolmer Green Hall.
We have a great programme this year,
click here for meeting details
click here for AGM papers
Hope to see you there

 

HNHS 1875 Awards for 2011

Winners of the awards this year are popular Hertfordshire naturalists, Peter Oakenfull and Richard Ball.  

 

Dragonflies - latest news and developments

 Photo by Chris HoltbyLook out for Hawkers and Common Darters, they still flying at this time of year, all the latest news of the countywide survey plus interesting sightings this summer.
Common Darter photo by Chris Holtby

 

Nominate an outstanding Hertfordshire naturalist for our 1875 Award

 Who would you like to receive the HNHS 1875 Award this year? Send us your nomination for either an outstanding Hertfordshire naturalist or someone who has made an outstanding contribution to natural history in Hertfordshire.

 

Spring Newsletter - Field Notes

 Our Spring update of HNHS and Herts Bird Club news - including the Bio-Blitz at Bayfordbury in July and Diary of Events listing dozens of field trips, meetings and wildlife walks

 

Bluebell woods in Hertfordshire

 Visit our wonderful Bluebell woods - details of some of the best sites

 

Spring spectaculars

Our woodlands, hedgerows and meadows are bursting with spring flowers, the birds are singing and bumble bees buzzing.
We list some of the best places to visit .

 

Book signing event for Hertfordshire Geology and Landscape

 John Catt will be signing copies of his new book 'Hertfordshire Geology and Landscape' on Saturday 29 January at St Stephens Church Hall, St Albans – do come along – read more.

All HNHS books and Bird Reports wiil be available to purchase there and over the week-end in Welwyn Garden City.

 

Hertfordshire Geology and Landscape now published

John CattAuthor John Catt with a copy of his new book Hertfordshire |Geology and Landscape.
Over 90 people attended the book launch in Verulamium Museum on 14 December.  
Buy a copy the book now - direct from HNHS only £39.50 post free.
 Find out more
 

 

Changes to County Recorders for Birds and Fungi and more

 David BilcockDepartures and new faces amongst our county recorders for

  • Birds - David Bilcock
  • Fungi
  • Dragonflies
  • Moluscs
and developments at the Hertfordshire Biological records Centre

 

Hertfordshire Geology and Landscape Book launch events

Herts Natural History Society is hosting two events to launch the book and allow those who pre-ordered a copy by 16 November to collect their book. Click here to see maps of the launch venues.

 

What a success - our Autumn Meeting and AGM - woodland wildlife

 T James L Smith at AGM
Read all about the 2010 HNHS Autumn meeting - Woodland Wildlife - and AGM on 30 October. See photos of the speakers and the presentation of the 1875 Awards.
HNHS Chairman Trevor James and HNHS Secretary Linda Smith are pictured right.

 

Two Hertfordshire naturalists honoured

 Well known birdwatcher Jim Terry and naturalist Tom Gladwin received the Society's prestigious 1875 Award at the Society's Autumn meeting on Saturday 30 October at Haileybury College. Click the link to read more about their achievements and full details of the meeting.

 

New HNHS book – Hertfordshire Geology and Landscape

Hertfordshire Geology and LandscapeThis major new book on Hertfordshire's earth heritage and its influence on geodiversity and biodiversity will be published in December. Place your order now at the special offer price only £29.50 post free. Find out more

 

Elusive Polecats


In the last week we have had two reports of polecat road casualties. Or were they Polecat-Ferret hybrids? Polecats were extinct in Hertfordshire until 1980s. Read more about the story of their re-introduction to the county and their current status.

 

Watch out for dragonflies

We want your sightings of dragonflies for a new Hertfordshire Survey. For example, how far has the Small Red-eyed Damselfly, first seen in Herts in 2000, spread across the county? Read more

 

Look out for the amazing Bee Fly

 Bee FlyThe amazing Bee Fly mimicing a bumble bee is now out and about in Hertfordshire. Look out for it around primroses, violets and bugle flowers.

 

Bluebell woods in Hertfordshire

 Bluebells in Sherrardspark Wood by Linda SmithGreat places to see glorious bluebells in Hertfordshire, details here
Photo shows Sherrardspark Wood on 28 April

 

New photo galleries

Wood Anemones at Hoddesdon Park Wood Your photographs on the Herts Bird Club website have proved so popular that  we have created two new galleries for your wildlife photos on the HNHS and the Flora Group websites. See how easy it is to send in your pictures.

 

HNHS 1875 Award winners

Who do you think deserves the HNHS 1875 Award for 2010 for an outstanding Hertfordshire naturalist? Click the link and make your nomination.

 

Flora of Hertfordshire – book launch events and photos

Trevor James with Flora book Hertfordshire Flora

See photos of the events attended by over 100 people to launch our brilliant new book Flora of Hertfordshire by Trevor James (pictured).
Copies of the Flora are still available to buy direct from HNHS – click the news item above for details.

 

Flora of Hertfordshire – book launch events and distribution information

Fantastic news, our new book, Flora of Hertfordshire, was published on 9 December 2009. Follow the link for more information.

 

Afternoon of Fish and Flowers

 Successful autumn meeting and AGM featuring Hertfordshire's flowers and freshwater fish and presentation of the 1875 Awards for outstanding Hertfordshire naturalists; read more

 

Enid Evans dies aged 98

 We are sad to hear that Mrs Enid Evans, a loyal and highly respected  member of the Society, died on 7 October 2009, aged 98. Click title to read more

 

HNHS Autumn Meeting Saturday 24 October

 Haileybury is the new venue for our Autumn meeting and AGM on Saturday 24 October. Hertfordshire's freshwater fish and wild flowers feature on the programme for the afternoon. Do join us at our annual get-together. More details here.

 

National Moth Night, Broxbourne Woods results

 Brimstone MothClick the link for full report and list of moths found.

 

Flora of Hertfordshire

Cover of Flora of HertfordshireOrder our fantastic new book on wild flowers of Hertfordshire by Trevor James to be published on 9 December. Order your copy now, only £49.50 (inc P&P). Click link for full details.

 

Trust celebrates new Balls Wood Nature Reserve

The official opening at Balls Wood.HNHS congratulate Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust on the aquisition of their latest nature reserve, Balls Wood at HertfordHeath. Over 50 guests and supporters gathered at the wood to celebrate its official opening on 24 June. Balls Wood is important for its diversity of woodland plants, insects and birds including the rare Herb Paris.

 

White Helleborines found near Bishops Stortford

 White Helleborine photo Peter HerringA new colony of White Helleborines has been found at Thorley near Bishops Stortford. This is further evidence of the gradual spread of these lovely orchids in the county.


 

Learning about Wildlife workshops – 2009-2010 programme

Water Vole by Anke HauberRed CampionThe full programme of 'Learning about Wildlife' workshops June 2009-April 2010 now available. Workshop topics include identification of wild flowers, trees, dragonflies, bats, fungi, wildfowl and much more. Click the link for more details and a booking form.

 

Herts Bird Club website redevelopment

We are redesigning and updating the Herts Bird Club website, see the full news report for details. In the meanwhile visit the existing HBC site for all the latest bird sightings and on line record submission.

 

Clouded Yellow butterflies and Hornet Clearwing moths in Hertfordshire today, 24 May

Clouded yellow butterflies are migrating across eastern Hertfordshire today 24 May and the first Hornet Clearwing moths emerged in Stevenage this morning, six weeks earlier than normal.

 

Appeal for funds to publish a 'Flora of Hertfordshire'

Herb BennetPlans to publish the next HNHS book ‘Flora of Hertfordshire’ by Trevor James, have received a real boost thanks to very generous donations from two HNHS members, but we need more funds before we can go ahead. Read more…


 

Herts Bird Club Conference – Birds in Towns and Cities

Ring-necked ParakeetA heady mix of alien species, mysteriously disappearing birds and surprises in city streets enthralled the audience of over 100 at the annual conference on 28 March.
David Lindo, the Urban Birder and presenter on BBC1’s ‘The One Show’ gave a personal account of his love for birds and how to make the most of city birdwatching.
Read more…

 

HNHS Autumn Meeting and AGM - Bats, Butterflies and Crayfish

Our Autumn conference in November highlighted surveying monitoring and recording in Hertfordshire. Read more…

 

New HNHS website goes live

Our fantastic new website built by Digital Routes went live on 15 April. The new Herts Bird Club website will follow in a few weeks. Read more…

 

History of Hertfordshire Natural History

Find out more about the history of the society.

 

Herts Bird Club/BTO Conference

28 March 2009 at Rothamsted Research on the subject of Birds in Towns and Cities. See Meetings page for full details and booking.

 

Nominations for the HNHS 1875 Awards for 2009

Nominations are now invited for the 1875 Awards 2009. Click above for full details.

 

The first 1875 Award – Colin Plant honoured

Colin Plant receives recognition for his contribution to Hertfordshire’s natural history. Click above for more information.

 

Acknowledgements

 

 

HNHS news

The HNHS 1875 Awards

  2011 Award Winners, Peter Oakenfull and Richard Ball, presented with their 1875 crystal awards by Trevor James at the HNHS Autumn Meeting in Novemeber. Full details here

Herts Bird Club news

Herts Bird Report 2009 now published

 Herts Bird Report 2009Our latest report was published on 12 November.
The report is free to members of Herts Bird Club.
Click the link for full details and to find out how to buy a copy.