Natural history experts honoured at 150th anniversary meeting

A leading geologist and a bird identification expert were honoured at the HNHS Autumn Meeting on Saturday 18 October as the Society continued celebrations marking its 150th anniversary.
Haydon Bailey, a national authority on chalk strata and fossils, received the Trevor James Award for an outstanding Hertfordshire natural historian. Haydon is Chair of Hertfordshire Geological Society which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Photo of Dr Bailey receiving his award from the High Sheriff, Nicholas Buxton (© David Utting)
HNHS 150th Annual General Meeting and Autumn conference

Join us at the Autumn Meeting and AGM on Saturday 18 October to celebrate our 150th anniversary!
The conference is taking place from 2pm to 5.30pm at the offices of Affinity Water, Tamblin Way, Hatfield AL10 9EZ.
The programme includes a chance to learn more about the Society’s Victorian founders and their rather different approaches to studying natural history. And there will be a special guest, Hertfordshire’s High Sheriff Nicholas Buxton, who will present the HNHS annual awards and talk about his approach to wildlife conservation on the Easneye Estate, near Ware.
New watersports plan expected for Broadwater Lake SSSI

After a long period of uncertainty, a revised planning application for the Hillingdon Water Sports and Activity Centre (HWSAC) at Broadwater Lake is awaited later in August.
Our colleagues at Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust understand the proposals have changed significantly since it launched a major campaign to protect the Lake's important Site of Special Scientific Interest from harm. Although located just outside Hertfordshire, the lake is part of the nationally important Colne Valley wetland system.
Public consultation on Hertfordshire's Nature Recovery Strategy

Public consultation is taking place on Hertfordshire's draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) with Monday 8 September set as the closing date for comments.
Nominations sought for the 2025 HNHS Awards

If you are an HNHS member and know an outstanding Hertfordshire naturalist or someone who has made outstanding contribution to natural history in our county please consider nominating them for one of our two awards this year.
The Trevor James Award for an outstanding Hertfordshire naturalist and the 1875 Award for an outstanding contribution to natural history in Herts will be presented at the Society's Autumn Meeting on 18 October.

