Doncaster Naturalist’s Society

Recording Doncaster’s wildlife since 1880

The society’s aims are to continue to document, educate and encourage an interest in all aspects of natural history and to promote the conservation of wildlife and the protection of habitats, mainly within the area covered by the Doncaster Metropolitan Borough. Founded in 1880 as the Doncaster Scientific Society, we hold an extensive archive spanning 125 years.

“I hope that the Doncaster area will continue to produce naturalists and other observers who will carry on the useful work of recording, and where possible protecting for posterity the more important rural features of our fascinating area”. G.E. Hyde, president in the year 1980.

A Constitution was agreed in 1991 and was revised in 2021. An Annual General Meeting (AGM) is held in January each year when officials of the society are elected.

Each year, we produce a winter and summer program of activities which are open to all members and casual visitors alike. During the summer, various surveys are carried out with the members, including botanical field meetings, amphibian and bat surveys, with several evenings throughout the year allocated to moth trapping and recording. During the winter months we hold workshops and indoor meetings at Parklands Sports & Social Club, Doncaster DN2 4LT when guest speakers are invited to give talks on various topics. Members and guests are encouraged to contribute articles for publication in the society’s ‘Doncaster Naturalist’.

If you would like to join the society or attend any of our meetings then please contact the general secretary by email at
enquiries “at” doncasternaturalhistorysociety.co.uk/
Please note that attendance at any meeting is at your own risk and that children under the age of 16 years must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

All the records from field meetings and individual members surveys are submitted to the Doncaster Local Records Centre. The DLRC direction and work are guided and scrutinised by the steering group, which meets annually and comprises 12 members, of which 2 are members of our society. The Doncaster Naturalists’ Society as an organisation, and its members acting as individuals, are the major contributor(s) to the Doncaster LRC database of biological recording in Doncaster district. In addition, all botanical records are also submitted to the Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland (BSBI) via Louise, who is the Vice County Recorder (VC63). Click here for Doncaster Local Record Centre Annual Report for the year 2020-2021

The society is also affiliated to the Yorkshire Naturalists Union (YNU). 

Membership of the society is £10 per annum

This website is intended to inform the membership and general public of the society’s activities, whilst also providing an outlet for members to share their wildlife observations and photographs. In addition, members of the public are welcome to submit records or items of interest and/or photographs regarding wildlife in or around Doncaster to
enquiries “at” doncasternaturalhistorysociety.co.uk/

The copyright of all photographs reproduced on this website belongs with the person who has taken the photograph. Anyone wishing to make use of any photograph should contact in the first instance the general secretary for further details.

President	Jim Burnett
Past President(s)	Colin A Howes (1977-79), Tom Higginbottom (1994-95),  Louise Hill (1997-98; 2005-20), Nora Boyle (2020-23)
General Secretary	Margaret Prior
Treasurer	Gerri Stevenson
Recorder	Louise Hill
Programme Secretary	Joyce Simmons
Membership Secretary	Gerri Stevenson
Other Committee Members	Colin A. Howes Derek Allen Hilary Hilton Les Coe (webmaster)
Honorary Life Members	Colin A. Howes Derek Allen

 
You can contact any of the officials via the societies email address enquiries “at” doncasternaturalhistorysociety.co.uk/

Map Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2020