WELCOME TO THE BNA WEBSITE
We hope you find it interesting and stimulating, and hope you will join the Association and swell the numbers of Britain’s Naturalists.
Join the BNA the national body for naturalists, founded in 1905, and extend your interest in the British countryside by taking part in a wide range of activities together with fellow enthusiasts of all ages. With the help of our experts, you will be able to learn more about our native flora and fauna and develop an in-depth understanding of how our natural world develops and changes increasingly important in view of the changes in our climate.
At national level, the BNA organises lectures and exhibitions, publishes Country-Side, British Naturalist, the BNA website and the BNA holds occasional conferences and Field Trips at a different location each year.
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BNA National Encaenia and Exhibits Handling Day
at Natural History Museum
Awards, Tours, Displays and Talks
22nd April 2023
- Celebrate the presentation of BNA new grades and awards
- Handle a range of interesting specimens from the NHM Collections*
- Take a tour around the Waterhouse Building* and look at the Historic Architecture
- Take a guided tour around the Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity* and see what facilities are available for naturalists to use
- Listen to illustrated talks given by Eminent Naturalists – Dr. Erica McAlister, Entomologist and Senior Curator for Diptera (including Siphonaptera) at the NHM, and Ted Benton, Emeritus Professor of sociology at the University of Essex and Honorary Fellow of the BNA.
*Subject to availability on the day
There has been no presentation of certificates or awards since 2019, this is a chance for families and friends to meet up and celebrate together, as well as see some of the fantastic “back stage” facilities and collections held by the NHM.
This is a “Ticket Only” event, it is free and open to BNA members, guests and non-members and includes complimentary tea/coffee on arrival.
Please note to avoid disappointment on the day, email the webmaster for tickets and programme:
webmaster.bnanaturalists@gmail.com
Click here for more information – BNA National Encaenia and Exhibits Handling Day
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BNA Weekend Workshops
at Brandon Marsh WLT reserve
(Near Coventry)
1st & 2nd July 2023
Take part in a range of activities led by experts. Learn how pollinators and flowers work together, find amazing structures such as plant galls, study specimens close-up using microscopes, identify moths caught on-site in a moth trap, and more.
Brandon Marsh is a SSSI with meadows, small-leaf lime woodlands, wood pasture, scrub and other habitats.
Members – £15 per day, £20 per weekend
Non-members – £20 per day, £30 per weekend
Come for the whole weekend (or either Saturday/ Sunday) tickets will be available soon and include tea/coffee on arrival and cold buffet lunch.
Click here for more information – BNA Weekend Workshop
What to look for in February from the BNA
Spring is not too far away and there are some interesting things to look out for during February. Although deciduous trees are without leaves, it is possible to identify them by other features like their buds, previous years leaves or seeds that are still hanging on.
Photos: D. Farrar
Oak – Quercus robur. Buds are ovate shaped, brownish in colour and clustered at the end of the twig.
Ash – Fraxinus excelsior. Distinctive black, velvety buds arranged opposite each other. The seeds (known as keys) turn from green to brown and stay on the tree from the previous year.
Beech – Fagus sylvatica. Long, pointed buds set at an angle from the twig, sometimes described as cigar shaped. The prickly seed cases of the beech nuts can sometimes be seen on the twigs in winter.
Sycamore – Acer pseudoplatanus. The buds are green in colour and grow opposite each other. The winged seeds (known as helicopters) turn brown in winter and hang down in pairs.
Programme of Zoom Talks 2023
Given by experts from the BNA and the Natural History Museum
The talks will take place on the third Monday every month starting at 7.30pm, the speaker, subject and times will be confirmed nearer each date.
To take part in any of these talks, or if you would like to give a talk,
please contact the Chairman – honchairman.bnanaturalists@gmail.com
