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.
JOIN NOW!
Support the BNA by donating via this link>>Donate here
or scan this QR code
Plantlife’s No Mow May is Back!
Let’s all let it grow for nature in 2026!
“No Mow May” is one of the easiest ways to help and connect with wildlife, and the perfect way to start supporting nature in your garden (in May and beyond!).
Join in by letting the wildflowers grow and be part of the No Mow Movement.
Find out more information on how you can help by visiting their website >> https://www.plantlife.org.uk/campaigns/nomowmay/
By joining in and leaving part of your lawn to grow, you will be helping insects to survive and gain a colourful ‘wild’ area where insects, bees and butterflies can thrive. By creating a range of grass lengths around your garden will have the biggest benefit for biodiversity. We need to break away from the narrative that wilder gardens are simply neglected or overgrown; after all, the habitat for many of our wildflowers would have been maintained in a natural landscape by wild grazing animals. These areas should be valued as beautiful sanctuaries, sheltering and supporting an enormous number of species.
Visit the website above and find out how you can help, and you will gain your own wild environment in your own garden. Somewhere to sit, relax and watch the wildlife on your own “private nature reserve”!
Check out our Wild News page here>> Wild News to see how wildlife, conservation and the environment are coping with the changing climate.
New BNA Branch in Staffordshire.
Email Steph and Andy to find out more >>
bnanaturalistsstaffordshire@outlook.com
National AGM Saturday May 30th 2026
Via Zoom Portal
Details can be found on this link at the bottom of the page:
https://bna-naturalists.org/about-us-2/
and will be sent to all members nearer the date
What to look for in March from the BNA
By D. Farrar
British birds usually begin nest building in March after the cold winter weather. Different bird species have varying nesting habits, such as location, whether there is plenty of vegetation around or secluded spots. Others prefer to nest in holes or boxes, whichever they choose it is great to watch them collecting materials, but be careful not to disturb their busy time of year.
Blue Tit – Cyanistes caeruleus. These lovely blue and yellow birds are always a pleasure to see at any time of year but they are especially busy this month looking for nesting sites. Their nests are mostly made from moss and feathers either in holes in trees or garden nest boxes.
House Sparrow – Passer domesticus. House Sparrows typically begin building nests in early spring with much activity from March. You might see them taking long strands of grass or straw, feathers and maybe pieces of paper they have picked up, under your roof tiles of the house or garage, to make their messy nests. Unlike Blue Tits, House Sparrows like to nest in groups so a lot of chattering could be heard.
Jackdaw – Corvus monedula. This member of the crow family is unmistakeable with their steel blue eyes and glossy silver sheen around the back of its head. They usually nest high up in trees but will also use buildings especially in chimneys. They look for hollows where they can place sticks, twigs, feathers and moss to form their large nests.
Wood Pigeon– Columba palumbus. Not so much of a cosy nest, more a platform made from twigs, usually in trees or on ledges of buildings. Wood Pigeons have a long breeding season, if there is an abundance of food it is possible for them to breed every month of the year.
