Purpose of the society
To provide facilities for those who wish to enjoy and increase their knowledge of natural history. The Society's main area of interest is the Elmbridge District of Surrey, which offers a good range of habitats and includes some sites, such as the commons around Esher and Oxshott, which are of major wildlife importance within the county and indeed nationally.
Meetings
From October 2018 indoor meetings will be held from October to April on the second Wednesday of the month at Cobham Village Hall, Lushington Drive, Cobham. This is in a modern complex of community buildings in the centre of Cobham, opposite the entrance to Waitrose car park. We have booked the Small Hall*, on the left as you enter the building. There is ample free parking, and we will have all facilities provided.
Note that meetings will now start at 8pm, as we are able to set up from 7.30pm. We will leave by 10pm, as before.
Meetings usually take the form of an illustrated talk covering a variety of natural history and environmental themes. Two meetings are reserved for members evenings where members talk about their current activities and bring specimens of interest for discussion.
Field work
Members are encouraged to support the field-work of the society and when possible a report is published. Local field activities usually include a winter bird walk, moth evenings using an ultra violet light trap, a fungus foray, and walks to study flowers, lichens, dragonflies, and bats.
An important aspect of the Society's activities is the ongoing survey of the wildlife of Elmbridge and in recent years a special survey of Molesey Heath, a local nature reserve, has been undertaken. Previous surveys have included a study of three Esher ponds, a stretch of the Wey Navigation, the Brooklands Museum site and Painshill Park.
Annual events
Annual events usually include a winter birdwatch, an autumn fungus foray and one or two moth evenings, using a mercury vapour lamp for recording purposes. A series of field meetings are held during the summer months, usually including a visit to Molesey Heath for wild flowers. See Events page for full details.
Bulletin
A quarterly Bulletin is produced to which members are encouraged to contribute.
History
In 1951 a group of keen local naturalists (led by Miss E Mills) formed the Weybridge Natural History Society. They were joined by the aquarists who were incorporated into the title in 1957. The Society grew and gathered members from a wider area and did wildlife surveys in many disciplines well beyond the boundaries of Weybridge. To reflect this the name was changed to the Elmbridge Natural History Society in 1995.
Meetings
From October 2018 indoor meetings will be held from October to April on the second Wednesday of the month at Cobham Village Hall, Lushington Drive, Cobham. This is in a modern complex of community buildings in the centre of Cobham, opposite the entrance to Waitrose car park. We have booked the Small Hall*, on the left as you enter the building. There is ample free parking, and we will have all facilities provided.
Note that meetings will now start at 8pm, as we are able to set up from 7.30pm. We will leave by 10pm, as before.
Meetings usually take the form of an illustrated talk covering a variety of natural history and environmental themes. Two meetings are reserved for members evenings where members talk about their current activities and bring specimens of interest for discussion.
Field work
Members are encouraged to support the field-work of the society and when possible a report is published. Local field activities usually include a winter bird walk, moth evenings using an ultra violet light trap, a fungus foray, and walks to study flowers, lichens, dragonflies, and bats.
An important aspect of the Society's activities is the ongoing survey of the wildlife of Elmbridge and in recent years a special survey of Molesey Heath, a local nature reserve, has been undertaken. Previous surveys have included a study of three Esher ponds, a stretch of the Wey Navigation, the Brooklands Museum site and Painshill Park.
Annual events
Annual events usually include a winter birdwatch, an autumn fungus foray and one or two moth evenings, using a mercury vapour lamp for recording purposes. A series of field meetings are held during the summer months, usually including a visit to Molesey Heath for wild flowers. See Events page for full details.
Bulletin
A quarterly Bulletin is produced to which members are encouraged to contribute.
History
In 1951 a group of keen local naturalists (led by Miss E Mills) formed the Weybridge Natural History Society. They were joined by the aquarists who were incorporated into the title in 1957. The Society grew and gathered members from a wider area and did wildlife surveys in many disciplines well beyond the boundaries of Weybridge. To reflect this the name was changed to the Elmbridge Natural History Society in 1995.
