You may navigate around this page using either the SLIDER on the right or the LINKS list on the left, then use the internal links and the 'BACK' button to go to and return from the rest of the site

 

• To encourage the enjoyment and study of natural history, particularly in Worcestershire and neighbouring counties;
• To bring together novices and experts, so that knowledge and pleasures can be shared;
• To record observations on all aspects of natural history.

• Visits - a year-round programme is arranged, in and around the county, providing enjoyable and not too strenuous walks in pleasant company, with the added bonus of opportunities to observe and learn about many branches of natural history.
• Talks - during the winter, the Club arranges a series of talks, slide-shows and social events, mainly dealing with natural history topics from near or far.
• Photography - many members are keen photographers, and all are as willing to pass on their wisdom to others as they are to learn from the more knowledgeable.
• Transactions - each year a volume of ‘The Transactions of the Worcestershire Naturalists’ Club’ is published, containing records of all the Club’s activities during the previous year, plus many short articles contributed by members about a surprisingly wide range of natural history topics.

• Programme of Walks, Summer 2009 - see Outdoor Meetings
• Programme of Evening Meetings, Winter 2009-2010 - see Indoor Meetings

In the winter, the guided walks are supplemented by a series of indoor meetings. These are mainly of the ‘lecture / slide show’ form, when club members or visiting speakers share their experiences with us. Evening meetings are now held in the Lower Room of the Holy Trinity Church Hall, Link Top, Malvern, and start at 7.30 p.m.

To give you an idea of the range of interests the Club embraces, this page contains not only the details of forthcoming events, but also information on the even more fascinating things you may have missed!

Follow this link for a Membership Application Form, which should be filled in and returned (together with the appropriate fee) to Jacquie Hartwright (see Contacts).

Arley and Highley: A walk along the banks of the Severn in this area north of Bewdley is always rewarding. Flowers such as Flowering Rush, Purple Loosestrife, Tansy and Arrowhead brighten the waters edge, and there is always the chance of seeing Kingfishers. This is also a good place to search for the rare Club-Tailed Dragonfly, and you can usually retrace your route on the Steam Railway!

Bittell Reservoirs: While the larger of these reservoirs near Barnt Green is used extensively for water sports, the smaller one is reserved for wildlife. A sunny day in the winter months is ideal for observing the many types of wintering water-fowl, while spring and autumn gives the chance of spotting unusual birds on migration. The large Alder trees provide winter food for many small birds, including Siskins and Redpoll.

Bredon Hill: The huge outlier of Cotswold limestone that dominates the Vale of Evesham is readily approached from the south through Kemerton. The estate management there is very sympathetic to wildlife, and a fine range of limestone flowers can be guaranteed throughout the summer. Fallow Deer are always around, though rarely seen, and there is never a shortage of birds, (including resident buzzards) and butterflies.

Castlemorton Common: An extensive area of rough-grazed common land on the east side of the Malvern Hills just south of Welland, looked after by the Malvern Hills Conservators. It contains a range of soil types and habitats, and is rewarding at all times of the year. Specialities include the High Brown Fritillary, good nesting sites for many small birds, ponds with Great Crested Newts, and flowers such as Petty Whin, Lousewort, Spring Cinquefoil and Autumn Lady’s Tresses.

Cleeve Common and the Bill Smyllie Reserve: The western scarp of the Cotswolds provides many areas of great interest, but these, just above Cheltenham and Cleeve Prior in Gloucestershire, are among the most rewarding. The limestone flowers are superb and include a wide range of orchids - Musk, Frog, Bee, Wasp, Common Spotted, Fragrant, Twayblade, Pyramidal (pink and white), etc., are all commonly found. The butterflies too are excellent, including Chalkhill and Small Blue, Dark Green Fritillary, and many of the more common species. If you are lucky, you may see a Lizard, but watch out for Adders!

Cother Wood: This is a Hereford Wildlife Trust reserve, on the slopes of a north-south ridge of ancient limestone, just to the west of the Malvern Hills. Habitats range form mature oak-wood to ungrazed limestone grassland and encroaching scrub. Many orchid species can be found, including fine displays of the Greater Butterfly Orchid in May and June. Butterflies used to include the Wood White and Grizzled Skipper, but now you are more likely to see the Green Hairstreak, Dingy Skipper and Marbled White. In the long-abandoned limestone quarries, ancient fossils can be found.

Eades Meadow:  Worcestershire is fortunate to retain several ancient hay meadows that have not been ploughed within living memory. This fine example is looked after by the Worcs. Wildlife Trust, which holds special ‘open days’ in spring (for the Green-Winged Orchids) and in autumn (for the Autumn Crocuses). At other times access is restricted in order that the traditional hay and grazing can be protected.

Monkwood: A large mixed wood west of Hallow, which used to supply the wooden handles for Harris paint brushes, but is now administered jointly by Butterfly Conservation and the Worcs. Wildlife Trust. Special butterflies include strong colonies of Wood White, White Admiral and Purple Hairstreak, and the woodland management is aimed to encourage Fritillaries. Some small artificial ponds are havens for several Dragonfly and Damselfly species, including the magnificent Emperor. From the Bluebells, Lilies-of-the-Valley and Early Purple Orchids of the Spring, through to the Colchicums and Violet Helleborines of the autumn, there is plenty to satisfy the botanists, and there is always a good range of fungi as winter approaches. Alongside is Monkwood Green, a small ancient common, with an interesting selection of plants and insects.

Upton Warren: A series of small lakes south of Droitwich, partly owned by the Worcs. Wildlife Trust. This is one of the foremost bird-watching sites in the county, providing year-round possibilities - you never know what strange birds might appear! As well as birds, it is good for dragonflies, and there are areas where salt-loving plants thrive on the brackish oozings from underlying salt deposits.

Wyre Forest: This area of ancient woodland, to the north of Bewdley, has an excellent visitor centre and many other points of access. Apart from the ‘Whitty Pear’ or ‘Sorb Tree’, which has featured many times in the WNC Transactions, the wood shelters much fascinating plant and animal life. One local resident has made a special study here of Adders, and a flock of Crossbills regularly visits an area of conifers. In summer, the Silver-washed Fritillary is frequently seen.

We are also greatly indebted to Mary Munslow Jones who, in 1980, published ‘The Lookers-out of Worcestershire’. This fascinating book tells many stories of the first 100 years of the Club’s existence, setting out the events against the context of the social scene of those times, and providing entertaining insights into many of the personalities involved.

Another valuable record of the Club’s Victorian period is found in the first volume of the WNC Transactions, printed in 1897, which meticulously records a great deal of the Club’s activities throughout its first 50 years. Succeeding volumes of Transactions have provided faithful records of all that the Club has been involved in, right up to the present day.

The Centenary of the Club was celebrated in 1947 by a special issue of Transactions entitled simply ‘The Worcestershire Naturalists’ Club, 1847 - 1947’. This issue was dedicated to the memory of Carleton Rea, a very eminent amateur botanist and mycologist who, besides contributing in many ways to the WNC, was instrumental in founding the British Mycological Society. This special issue not only summarises the founding of the Club and many aspects of its activities, but also provides a sort of ‘Who’s Who’ record of over 20 of its more notable members.

To celebrate the Club’s 150th Anniversary in 1997, a small exhibition was mounted in prominent public places around the County, ranging from several Public Libraries to the Countryside Centre in Worcester and a couple of shows at the Three Counties Showground near Malvern. The exhibition was mainly photographic, illustrating the wealth of natural history around us as seen through the cameras of Club members. In addition, several special articles were included in the 1996 Transactions, summarising various periods in the Club’s history.

Finally, in 1997 a marvellous discovery was made by Jacquie Hartwright in the depths of the Worcester Library archives - one of Edwin Lees’ original note books! This was entitled ‘The Journal of Natural History’ and covers his excursions and observations during the year from July 1825 to August 1826. Extracts from this unique record were transcribed for the 1997 Transactions, and it is hoped that a complete transcript will eventually be published. Besides giving an informative view of the Worcestershire countryside of over 170 years ago, this record provides a fascinating insight into the energy and enthusiasm of our founder, and of his great knowledge and love for all things natural.

The following section provides a ‘time-line’ record of a selection of the more important happenings relating to the Club’s long history. Click on this link to see a complete list of all those eminent local people who have served as President of the WNC.

The first volume of the Transactions was edited by Carleton Rea and issued in 1897, a large volume, covering Club activities over the 50 years since its foundation in 1847. Rea continued to produce issues sporadically for the next 50 years, each one covering several years’ events. Subsequently, several editors have continued to maintain the high standards he set. From 1967 a new  format, the 6-monthly ‘Newsletter of the Worcestershire Naturalists’ Club’, was introduced. This ran until 1979 when annual issues of the ‘Transactions’ were resumed, and in 1990 the current style was adopted.

All recent issues of Transactions contain the usual boring information on the Club’s Officers and Council Members, a report on the latest AGM and the accounts for the previous year. The remainder is much more interesting, comprising an editorial section, reports on Field and Indoor Meetings, a section of brief articles in News and Notes, longer Articles by members, and the occasional Book Review and Obituary.

The Transactions Index page includes summaries of the contents of several recent issues, giving a good idea of the wide range of Club activities and members’ interests.

The Club holds a small stock of copies of recent issues which are available for sale at modest prices. Please address requests to The Secretary (see Contacts section).

The Editor (see Contacts section) is always pleased to receive items for forthcoming issues of Transactions, not later than 31st October each year. Contributions should be typed if possible; word processed items can be accepted in most formats, either on a CD or by e-mail to wnc@christopherbetts.com

Several members are keen to acquire copies of the early, hard-back issues of the Transactions. If anyone knows of copies that might be available, Tony Hughes (see Contacts section) would be pleased to hear from them.