Really chuffed with this new article on our blog, from Ian Bower, about Geordie legend and champion animal-drawer Thomas Bewick: www.nhsn.org.uk/thomas-bewic...

New on the blog - Sandra Bishop writes about an Arctic journey to Svalbard undertaken by the Newcastle explorer, hunter and naturalist Abel Chapman, from our Transactions: www.nhsn.org.uk/from-north-s...

A timeless shot of a Cormorant at #GosforthNatureReserve Cormorants can be spotted in inland freshwater and along the coast.🌊 Did you know that although Cormorants are amazing divers, there feathers aren't actually waterproof? 📸Thank you to Ray Haldane for these wonderful photos.

Join us on Tues 16 Sept as we talk to Mike Pratt, one of the North East's foremost conservationists. His latest book explores how we might reconnect with nature in the face of ecological change and how human contact with the natural world can nurture our health and wellbeing. bit.ly/45TYmZ4

As part of our #NaturesCure project, we've been inviting clients of the Angelou Centre in Newcastle to Gosforth Nature Reserve for guided walks and to talk about what nature means to them. Our heritage researcher Mel picks up the story: www.nhsn.org.uk/peace-friend...

Join us on Tues 16 Sept as we talk to Mike Pratt, one of the North East's foremost conservationists. His latest book explores how we might reconnect with nature in the face of ecological change and how human contact with the natural world can nurture our health and wellbeing. bit.ly/45TYmZ4

Have you ever wanted to do historical research, but not been sure how to go about it? Join our heritage researchers @rach-anderson.bsky.social and @petermitchellnhsn.bsky.social in Oct for a specially curated course on finding your way through the archival maze: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-introdu...

Really chuffed to be in this, with an essay about @nenature.bsky.social in the 19th and early 20th century, field naturalism, imperial science, museums, civic identity and lads with big muttonchop whiskers and giant watch chains dissecting sea slugs

On 16 September, we're really looking forward to hosting Mike Pratt of @northwildlife.bsky.social for a talk about his life and career in North East nature - and a reading from his new book! Tickets available here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mike-pratt...

Today's new book at the NHSN office: Exmoor (Collins New Naturalist series no.150) by Flemming Ulf-Hansen. To go in our complete collection of New Naturalists!

We at NHSN are very sad to note the passing of Angus Lunn MBE. We've tried to pay tribute here to his incredible life and career as an educator, naturalist and conservationist, and to everything he did for nature in the North East: www.nhsn.org.uk/remembering-...

Ever wondered what the inside of a tree sounds like? This and other mysteries are part of our new blog on nature workshops and community: www.nhsn.org.uk/natures-cure...

Today's new book in the NHSN office: The Birds of Britain by James Fisher (1942). Featuring illustrations from John Gould (1804-1881) and Thomas Bewick (1753-1828)

You know what time it is.... it's photos of the week! Scroll through some of the wonderful wildlife that's been sent in recently 🐾 📸 1: Meadow Pipit © Neil Pont 2: Bluetits © Mark Nugent 3: Barn Owls © Chris Ellis 4: Heron © Kevin Ireland

Fantastic photos from #GosforthNatureReserve📸 Recently, the Brown Hawker dragonfly has been spotted! With few North East records, this is an exciting sight to be seen. Their brown wings make this species distinct and they can also be spotted hunting in the woodland.🌳 ©Ron Bowe

This Bank Holiday Monday (25th Aug)- A whole week of family-friendly fun at Gosforth Nature Reserve. From owl pellet dissecting to pond dipping, keep your little explorers curious and connected to nature. 🕵️‍♂️🌱 Book now: www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/nhsn-event... #NewcastleNatureNetworks

Recently, the first sighting of the Silver-washed Fritillary was recorded at Havannah Nature Reserve by local Chris Barlow.📷 This butterfly has not been recorded in Northumberland since 1850! 🦋 They are now found in a few sites in County Durham with Rowland's Gill the most northerly location.

🌿 Free Entry to Gosforth Nature Reserve! 🌿 Mon 25 – Sun 31 August Enjoy a full week of free access to explore woodland trails, spot wildlife, and unwind in nature. No booking needed—just come along! #GosforthNatureReserve #FreeEntry #ExploreNature

Very chuffed indeed to find that my essay for @corridor8.bsky.social on the @nenature.bsky.social archive is amongst Jonn's list of interesting other stuff this week:

Our 'Gosforth's Wild Web' project continues to go from strength to strength! Here are some of June's highlights, from our nature ranger @em-anderson123.bsky.social : www.nhsn.org.uk/summer-has-a...

Last week I came across some Small Scabious Mining Bees (Andrena marginata) in County Durham. This lovely species is Nationally Scarce and, I believe, has only been recorded twice before in Northern England. I managed to find them in 3 1km squares in the end. #NorthEastBeeHunt @nenature.bsky.social

To celebrate the final of #Euros2025 we bring you an illustration of Himantolophus groenlandicus - the Atlantic #football -fish. One of 23 species in the Himantolophidae family it does rather resemble a ⚽! The female has the distinctive branched lure (esca) and is much larger than the male

Really interesting talk from @timjerrome.bsky.social just now on finding queer histories in rural records, on the subject of a lack of northern representation it might be worth checking out the @nenature.bsky.social archive - could've said this in person but wandered off before I thought of it 🤪

Ever wondered what the inside of a tree sounds like? This and other mysteries are part of our new blog on nature workshops and community: www.nhsn.org.uk/natures-cure...

The NHSN is dedicated to upholding all the cultural institutions of the North East, regardless of whether their parties feature excellent company and unlimited free wine

Grace Hickling MBE (1906-1986) was the first woman to act a Chair of the NHSN and a towering figure in the North East. In this guest blog, Anne Wilson explores her life and times: www.nhsn.org.uk/amazing-grace/

Seals, seabirds, nature and the Farnes: in this guest blog, Anne Wilson explores the extraordinary life of Grace Hickling, the NHSN's first female Chair: www.nhsn.org.uk/amazing-grace/

Did you know that our historical Transactions are now available to read online? In this blog, heritage researcher Rachel Anderson and some of the fabulous volunteers who helped us get to this point reflect on the process of making this landmark development in NHSN's history happen: ow.ly/EiR150W9VTH

In 1852, Newcastle was afflicted by "swarms", "multitudes", "masses", "plagues of flies" that "filled both eyes and mouth" and left crops looking as though "saturated by a bloody rain". The cause? Abnormal weather events. Our volunteer Sandra takes up the story: www.nhsn.org.uk/bold-encount...

Features Thomas Bewick's sketches, George Gibsone's shells, Sarah Dickson's mushrooms, the Cullercoats Sea-Serpent and all your other favourites (and also, unsettlingly, one of Thomas Bewick's teeth which is now in its rightful place in human remains storage)

Barn Owl out early this evening around Gosforth @nenature.bsky.social #NEbirding

I’ve been recording the garden bees for the #NorthEastBeeHunt run by @nenature.bsky.social but found plenty of other invertebrates out there. It’s amazing what you can find when you look. 🐡 #art #invertebrates

A little collection from a walk around @nenature.bsky.social Gosforth Nature Reserve yesterday featuring Melancholy Thistle, Marsh Cinquefoil, Great Burnet and Betony. #wildflowers

This is such a wonderful love letter to the gorgeous archive we have the privilege of caring for at @nenature.bsky.social ✨ Well done @petermitchellnhsn.bsky.social 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

One of the best parts of our 'Nature's Cure' project so far has been reading the stories of nature lovers from all over the world. Here our heritage researcher Mel shares some of the best reflections on nature's power to inspire, heal & intrigue from around the globe: www.nhsn.org.uk/voices-from-...

Our heritage researcher @petermitchellnhsn.bsky.social has written this piece for @corridor8.bsky.social on the artistic riches to be found in our North East Nature Archive: corridor8.substack.com/p/e1fb8576-1...

Last week we attended the opening of the Explore! gallery at Great North Museum: Hancock - and were thrilled to see how our volunteer Maureen Flisher's research into the 'Pitmen Naturalists' of the nineteenth-century North East coalfield has become a permanent display! @northeastmuseums.bsky.social

Our historical Transactions - which you can now access free online! - are a fascinating record of scientific, social and regional history. On our blog, heritage researcher Mel Tuckett explores some of the people that this new resource brings back to life: www.nhsn.org.uk/welcoming-th...

We love this fabulous article from yesterday's Teesside Lead about post-industrial ecologies, birdlife in the Tees estuary and the strange allure of places being slowly reclaimed by nature:

Did you know that our historical Transactions are now available to read online? In this blog, heritage researcher Rachel Anderson and some of the fabulous volunteers who helped us get to this point reflect on the process of making this landmark development in NHSN's history happen: ow.ly/EiR150W9VTH

On Thurs 12 June, we've got local artist and lecturer Julia Heslop and conservationist Sam Fisher joining us for an evening event, discussing their fascinating community-led project on housing development and ecology in North Tyneside's beautiful rural edgelands: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/in-murton-...

confirmed!

Introducing the newly digitised Transactions of the Natural History Society of Northumbria! Today we proudly unveil the digitised Transactions of the Natural History Society of Northumbria, starting with all 19th-century volumes from 1831 to 1899. Find out more at: www.nhsn.org.uk/transactions...

Really proud today to publish the latest update in our brilliant volunteer Maureen's series on the 'Pitmen Naturalists'. We're making these all into a booklet which should be available in September, and couldn't be more excited: www.nhsn.org.uk/the-pitmen-n...

To celebrate #VolunteersWeek, our heritage researcher (and volunteer) Mel Tuckett has written about some of the work that our archive and library volunteers do. Thanks to our fantastic volunteers for sharing your stories, and for all the brilliant work that you do! www.nhsn.org.uk/where-would-...

@nenature.bsky.social bat walk shenanigans! #bat #bats #batwalk #nature #batspotting

‼️FORTHCOMING EVENTS AT NHSN‼️ We've got some great events coming up for everyone interested in natural history in the North East! First up, next Tuesday we're opening up our archive at GNM:Hancock to show some of the fascinating artworks we've got inside: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1345295899...

Enjoy some wildlife from #GosforthNatureReserve taken by local photographer, Mark Bell 🦌 The Common Terns, Grey Heron, Roe Deer and Kingfisher were enjoying foraging and hunting for a quick snack, on this rainy day🌦️ Did you know, the Common Tern is nick-named the 'Sea Swallow'?🪶

We had the pleasure of welcoming local artist Rachael Eden to Gosforth Nature Reserve for a blossom inspired embroidery workshop, part of the National Trust’s Festival of Blossom. The results were absolutely stunning - a huge well done to everyone who took part! 🌸🧵 #FestivalOfBlossom #BlossomWatch

I'm putting this on in a couple of weeks and I reckon it's going to be great