Sadly, with the start of another lockdown, we must cancel our Bath Nats events for the foreseeable future. Hopefully some of the events planned for later in the Spring will still be able to go ahead, but we will review this as conditions change.
Bath Natural History Society
BATH NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY – Registered Charity No. 1107468
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Welcome to our new Bath Nats website from the President Professor David Goode
Do come and join us in “Exploring Nature within and around Bath!”
Whether you are visiting this site as an onlooker, member or prospective member of our Society, we hope you will enjoy and be excited by the descriptions and illustrations of our diverse interests, activities and expertise. We are a relatively small Natural History Society, which relies on the enthusiasm, voluntary efforts and skills of its membership, so newcomers – of all ages and from all kinds of background are always very welcome.
We think that ‘natural history’ is important for everyone, not just a select few. The natural world is made up of many different kinds of animals and plants, and it takes all kinds of people to appreciate them, from different points of view and in different ways. So, if you find pleasure in exploring any aspect of nature, especially in the Bath area, perhaps you would like to join us as a really great way to share and learn more.
Since I came to live in Bath I have found that the city and its surroundings support a great variety of wildlife. Among my particular favorites are meadows full of orchids around the skyline walk; a huge colony of ivy mining bees that have recently colonized sandy banks near the Pavilion Restaurant in Victoria Park; a night time roost of up to 300 pied wagtails in the solitary tree in Southgate shopping centre; and perhaps best of all the pair of Peregrine Falcons that nest on the spire of St John’s church in the city centre. Unseen by many people, they are for me an important link with the natural world that can bring enjoyment, stimulation and a sense of wonder.
By joining in with us, you too might be surprised and inspired by the variety of life that can be found almost anywhere in and around Bath, with a little knowledge of where to look, how to look and what to look for. Over the past few years some of our members have regularly visited the tiny cemetery at Smallcombe to find out what lives there. The results have been astonishing. So far they’ve seen over 700 species including 55 kinds of moths, many other insects, over 44 common bird species, around 144 kinds of flowering plants including some quite rare species, and over 100 species of lichens. All this occurs within a short walk from the city centre. The canal too is rich in species. Around 15 dragonfly species can be seen along the towpath between Bath and Bradford on Avon. Kingfishers can frequently be seen and if you are lucky you might even see an otter on the canal or along the River Avon. Delightful mosses, liverworts, lichens and all manner of ‘creepy crawlies’ abound on and in our stone walls and in our local woodlands – not to mention fungi, a passion for some of our members. Fungal forays are remarkably popular. We are also discovering, by light trapping (and releasing), the wide range of moth species which inhabit Bath’s urban and sub-urban areas, including some of the strikingly beautiful hawk moths.
We are especially keen to work in partnership with other local educational groups and organizations who share our interest in and concern for the natural world, and to find ways of reaching out to members of the wider public, including young people and families. When you join us, you don’t just get a chance to attend our own varied programme of outdoor and indoor meetings, and receive our Magazine, Newsletter and other publications – you also get to know about what our partners and friends are doing and how to join in with them.
You are very welcome!
About Us
Objectives and Contribution
The main purpose of Bath Natural History Society, as described in our Constitution, is to study and enjoy all aspects of the natural world and to furnish detailed records of species distribution and numbers within the Bath area to the Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre (BRERC). These data are then available for access by a variety of agencies and can be used to assist in the development of a wildlife conservation strategy as well as being of value in determining the natural richness of sites when under consideration for development.
Activities
• Field trips – usually two or more per month.
• Indoor meetings – monthly from September through to April.
• Survey work – site visits to record specific wildlife groups.
• Members’ slides and social evenings.
• Education – providing lecturers to speak to external organisations.
• Wildlife identification.
• Meetings to enable the public to participate in Nats’ activities.
Join in
If this sounds interesting to you, come and join us!
To download Constitution Council Members SafeGuarding Policy Membership form

Take a walk with BathNats
When it’s not possible to join a field trip, explore nature round Bath with a self-guided walk. Lucy Starling is your guide.

How To Join Bath Nats
To join us, come along to one of our indoor meetings, email us or download an application form
A programme of our field trips is available to all members.
The annual subscription is as follows:
• Single membership…….. £8.00
• Family membership….. £12.00
• Student membership….. £4.00
You can download an application form to join us here
Admission for indoor meetings is £2 for members and £4 for visitors.
Admission to the social evening and to the AGM is free.
Study Groups
‘Study Groups’ (SGs) are intended to augment the main Field Programme by enabling members of the Society to enhance their knowledge and confidence in studying particular aspects of natural history and to encourage recording.
Their meetings are arranged and notified separately to their members by their respective leaders, as and when appropriate. Members who wish to join an SG are asked to contact the leader(s) of that group.
Current SGs are as follows: Moths (Paul Wilkins, Peter Shirley and Geoff Hiscocks); Biodiversity (Alan Feest and Alan Rayner).

Coronavirus Lockdown Log for June 2020
Contribute to the BathNats Lockdown Log for June While field trips are suspended do share any sightings of interest within the BathNats area. Use the contact form and if you have any photos to share ask on the form for a direct email link to submit them. And don't...
BathNats Coronavirus Lockdown Log March to May 2020
Contribute to the BathNats Lockdown Log While field trips are suspended do share any sightings of interest within the BathNats area. Use the contact form and if you have any photos to share ask on the form for a direct email link to submit them.Lucy Starling reports...
International Dawn Chorus Day, 3 May 2020
David Goode took a recorder out early on 3 May The recording is about one hour long. There were five distinct phases that day . Robins blackbirds wrens and woodpigeons, with occasional croaks from a raven. Ends with the soft notes of a bullfinch Great tits, blackbirds...
Dawn Chorus, Lyncombe Hill, Bath, 7 April 2020
by BathNats President David Goode Tawny owls were calling when I opened the window at 5.45 this morning. It was dark but the dawn chorus had already started. Blackbirds and robins were the first songsters, soon joined by song thrushes and the strident voice of a wren....
Vallis Vale, Great Elm, Somerset, 8 March 2020
Leader: Helena Crouch Ten members joined the leader for the walk through Vallis Vale, a biological and geological SSSI, containing ancient woodland and the famous De La Beche Unconformity. After weeks of wet weather, the paths were very muddy but passable, and the...
The Cultural Ecology of Meadows: talk by George Peterken
Monday 2 March at Bath Royal Scientific and Literary Institute (BRSLI) After 30 years as a woodland specialist for the Nature Conservancy Council, George Peterken developed an interest in meadows which led him to write the very popular book Meadows in the British...
What have we learnt from the return of the peregrine? Talk by Ed Drewitt, 4 February 2020
With a full house of members at BRLSI, David Goode introduced the speaker, Ed Drewitt, as one of the country’s most knowledgeable peregrine specialists and author of ‘Urban Peregrines’, the first book to highlight the success of this fabulous bird in urban...
Willsbridge Mill, 25 January 2020
Leaders: Andrew and Jane Daw A good number of people joined us at Willsbridge Mill for a field trip which had originally been planned for Kelston, the persistent rain having led to flooding around our original route. Willsbridge Mill Reserve, managed by the Avon...
New Year City Walk, Lyncombe Vale and Perrymead, 5 January 2020
We met outside the Prior Park Garden Centre at 10am on a mild winter’s morning for our New Year Walk in Widcombe. As usual it was a popular gathering with 28 members present. After a quick look for American crayfish along the stream by Prior Park Buildings, which...
Corsham Court Parkland, 18 December 2019
Leader: Philip Delve Given the run of wet and windy days this month, those attending this meeting were blessed with reasonable conditions for our walk; for although we needed to wrap warm against a cool breeze the morning remained rain free. Having assembled at the...
National Links
- RSPB www.rspb.org.uk
- Natural England www.naturalengland.org.uk
- National Trust www.nationaltrust.org.uk
- Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust www.wwt.org.uk
- Butterfly Conservation www.butterfly-conservation.org
- British Dragonfly Society www.dragonflysoc.org.uk
- UK Moths www.ukmoths.org.uk
- Froglife www.froglife.org
- Wild About Britain www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk
- UK Butterflies www.ukbutterflies.co.uk
- The Great Crane Project www.thegreatcraneproject.org.uk
- Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland www.bsbi.org.uk
Local Links
- Bath peregrines nest cam (Hawk & Owl Trust) hawkandowltrust.org/web-cam-live/bath-1
- Avon Wildlife Trust www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk
- Wiltshire Wildlife Trust www.wiltshirewildlife.org
- Somerset Wildlife Trust www.somersetwildlife.org
- Gloucester Wildlife Trust www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk
- Cotswold Fungus Group www.cotswoldfungusgroup.com
- Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre www.brerc.org.uk
- CVL Birding www.cvlbirding.co.uk
- Severnside Birds www.severnsidebirds.co.uk
- Somerset Birds www.somersetbirds.net
- Bristol Naturalists Society www.bristolnats.org.uk
- Bristol Ornithology Club www.boc-bristol.org.uk
- The Birds of South Gloucestershire www.thebirdsofsouthgloucestershire.co.uk
- Wiltshire Birds www.wiltshirebirds.co.uk
- Chew Valley Ringing Station www.chewvalleyringingstation.co.uk
- Elm Farm www.elm-farm.com
- Blagdon Lake Birds www.blagdonlakebirds.com
- Somerset Rare Plants Group www.somersetrareplantsgroup.org.uk
Get In Touch!
Please use the contact form here
BATH NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY
Registered Charity No. 1107468
In memoriam
Tributes to past members
Professor Desmond Thomas Donovan 1921-2019
We are sad to learn that Professor Donovan died on 23rd December 2019 after a short illness. Members of the Society will know him as one of our Honorary Members. In fact he was one of the Founder Members of our Society in 1941 as an undergraduate studying Geology at the University of Bristol. He had a distinguished career as an academic geologist, first as a lecturer at the University of Bristol, then in 1962 Professor of Geology at the University of Hull, after which he became the Yates Goldsmid Professor of Geology at University College London from 1966 to 1982. After that he returned to the West Country and became Hon. Curator of the Wells Museum from 1982-85 and has lived in Wells since then. His main speciality has been in the field of palaeontology, particularly Jurassic cephalopods, a subject in which he made a massive contribution to our knowledge and understanding.
As one of his former students, I was pleased to receive a letter from him last year in which he congratulated the Bath Nats on our activities saying, “it seems to flourish and the annual magazine is excellent”. It was a nice tribute from a founder member after eighty years! He told me he was, “still doing some geology and had a couple of papers in preparation!”
The Society is greatly indebted to Professor Donovan for his foresight as one of our founder members.
David Goode
Alan Barrett 1937-2020
Our dear friend Alan Barrett died in February 2020 aged 82. Alan and Gillian joined the Society in about 1991 shortly after moving to Bath from Great Bookham in Surrey. Alan brought with him a considerable knowledge of birds, and a developing interest in insects. Gillian tells me that Jean Matthews, who was then Dragonfly Recorder, took him under her wing and he became very interested in dragonflies. Eventually he took over from Jean as Dragonfly Recorder for the Society. He gave several talks to the Bath Nats and led trips to help people identify dragonflies. One of Alan’s favourite places locally was the ox-bow wetland at Bathampton Meadows. He became the warden of the nature reserve run by the Avon Wildlife Trust and often took members of the Skills Improvement Group there.
Alan also became interested in Grasshoppers and Crickets and became the Recorder for these too. He went with Gillian on a residential course on Grasshoppers and Crickets at Kingcombe Field Study Centre in Dorset which stimulated his interest even further. All the records from the ‘SIGs’ were sent to BRERC in Bristol.
Over the years Alan has been central to the development of the Society. Whilst on Council he played an important part in writing the Constitution when we were about to become registered as a charity. All this was done in parallel with his other great interest which was birds. He has given enormous support to the Local Group of the RSPB in Bath over many years. In 1998 he became Indoor Meeting Secretary and in 2003 became Group Leader, a position that he held for ten years. Alan kept abreast of the changing fortunes of birds in Widcombe, and particularly in their own garden where Alan and Gillian have recorded nearly fifty species.
I shall always remember him as a great enthusiast, who was always willing to spend time explaining the detailed characters of a particular bush cricket or long-winged conehead. He had a great knack using a bat detector for identifying stridulating insects. But above all it was his welcoming friendliness that I shall miss.
David Goode