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Harrogate & District Naturalists' SocietyAffiliated to: The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; The British Trust for Ornithology; The Botanical Society of the British Isles; The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Ltd.; The Yorkshire Naturalists' Union. Registered Charity No. 503860 |
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around Harrogate and Nidderdale |
| The Society | The Society was formed in 1947 as the Harrogate & District Naturalist & Scientific Society, the present title being adopted in 1958. Its aim is to promote the study and enjoyment of wildlife in all its forms and to disseminate the knowledge of natural history. The Society takes an active and practical interest in the conservation of wildlife resources and supports efforts to safeguard the natural diversity of species. |
| Society Activities |  Between
October and March, a programme of illustrated lectures,
covering countryside and world-wide aspects of natural history, is arranged
at intervals of two weeks. These meetings are held on Wednesdays at 7.30pm
in the St. Roberts Centre, 2/3 Robert Street, Harrogate. The programme
of meetings is sent out to members in September.
To meet the primary function of accurate recording and presentation of studies, the Society has groups with particular interests in the major natural orders, e.g.. Ornithology, Botany, Zoology, Entomology and other Invertebrates and Mycology. Each Group has a Recorder for the collation and verification of records, and a Group Leader who arranges field meetings and excursions to a varied selection of habitats, mainly within the Society's study area of some 900 square kilometres, having the River Nidd as its spine. Field meetings encourage the
pursuit of special subject interests, provide learning opportunities, relate
to the interdependence of species and are open to all members. Ongoing
group activities are featured at the indoor meetings. These activities
include taking part in projects proposed by the county and national bodies
to which the Society is affiliated, or by other scientific researchers.
These include, for example, national Wildfowl counts, BTO surveys (including
the Ringing Scheme for qualified members), recording schemes on the distribution
of insects, amphibians, reptiles and mammals and also various botanical
surveys and mapping projects. The Society records the status of many forms
of wildlife against which can be measured the changes taking place in the
natural environment.
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| Junior Section |  Junior
members (up to age of 18) have their own programme designed by experienced
leaders. Interested parents often participate in these learning opportunities
and must accompany children under 8. Most Junior meetings are held in the
open at sites chosen to cover a wide range of wildlife interests. A small
nature reserve at Bishop Thornton has been made available to the Society
for use by Junior members. For more information go to our Junior
Section |
| Membership | All those, including children,
interested in natural
history are eligible for membership. The business
of the Society is conducted by the Council of six elected members and the
honorary officers. Applications for membership are provisionally accepted by the Membership Secretary, Valerie Smith val.smith1@talktalk.net the final decision being made by Council. The Society maintains a birdwatching hide at a private wildlife site at Farnham Gravel Pits. Details of conditions of use and the availability of keys for both the site and the hide, for which a deposit is payable, may be had from the General Secretary Patricia Cook (01423) 772953 gensec.hdns@talktalk.net |
| Subscriptions | Single adult member: £15
per year
Junior members (under 18): £3 per year Family Membership (Includes adult membership and all Juniors): £25 per year Visitors fee: £2 per event Children entered under Family
membership automatically become members of the Junior section.
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| Reports and Publications |  All
members receive an Annual Report, which details the work of the Society
and presents the year's most interesting records.
A Bird Report, currently £4, is offered for sale to members. A newsletter on topics of current and future concerns is issued in Spring and Autumn, together with the programmes of meetings. A NEW BOOK, Birds of the Harrogate District by our current Ornithological Recorder, John R.Mather, is now available (£7.50 (+p&p) to members). This definitive reference on the avifauna of the district deals with all the 288 species recorded in the Society's area since the 18th Century and includes a wealth of detail for each. HDNS car stickers are available - these, together with the above book, can all be purchased at evening meetings or by contacting the General Secretary. |
| Gift Aid | The Deed of Covenant scheme
was replaced by Gift Aid with effect from 6 April 2000. The new scheme
has several benefits:
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| Data Protection Act | In order to assist with the mailing of newsletters and programmes, members' names and addresses are held on a computer database. They will not be passed to others without your prior permission. Individuals who do not want their name and address held on computer should notify the Membership Secretary in writing. |
| Links | Harrogate and District Biodiversity Action Group (HDBAG) www.biodiversityaction.org |
THE WINTER PROGRAMME 2011-2012
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Visitors welcome to any lecture, fee £2.00 12th October 2011 Ringing and the wildlife encountered on the Baltic Island of Stora Fjadderagg, based on many visits by the EDRG, including owls, birds of prey, woodpeckers and other northern specialities 26th October 2011 Join the speaker on a whistle stop tour around New Zealand and sample the history and the natural history of this far flung place 9th November 2011 Adders studied in the Washburn Valley, including courtship, mating, skin casting, etc, with sections on Grass Snakes, Slow-worms, Lizards, Frogs and Toads 23rd November 2011 The island is remote and wild. It has perhaps the largest concentration of seabirds in the northern hemisphere, but also a dramatic history 7th December 2011 Angling for some of Britain's most colourful and unusual fish 11th January 2012 The biology of these fascinating highly evolved creatures, their management by beekeepers for pest control and honey production, their importance for pollination, and garden plants for bees 25th January 2012 This will be a lecture on how birds move: walking and flying. As usual for my lectures, it will contain anatomy and physiology as well as general entertainment! As there are 9000+ species of birds it will of necessity be a brief overview. 8th February 2012 Slides and a talk on these fascinating creatures, with live bats! Lesley is the Rydale Representative of the North Yorkshire Bat Group 22nd February 2012 An examination of the issues that should be considered when attempting to create new woodlands of native trees, using examples from Nidderdale AONB and further afield 7th March 2012 Mariandyrys is a small nature reserve on Anglesey. Terry's illustrated talk covers the natural history (especially birds) to be seen on and from this reserve 21st March 2012 The talk focuses on the ecology of the red squirrel and will detail the conservation requirements and management work that is being undertaken to protect this species in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. 25th April 2012 |
For further information: General Secretary Patricia Cook (01423) 772953 gensec.hdns@talktalk.net
