ABOUT

	About the Society
Common Darter ( Sympetrum striolatum )		Pyramidal Orchid ( Anacamptis pyramidalis )

      The Society was founded in 1909 by a small group of enthusiastic local naturalists with a wide range of interests who got together and arranged a series of lectures and field meetings to be held regularly throughout the year. There is not a great deal known about the early days of the Society but from 1930 the Society's main activities have been documented in its annual "Proceedings". Over the years, as demand dictated, various specialist groups have been established to cater for such interests as botany, ornithology, entomology, geology and microscopy.
      The war years of 1939 - 1945 severely restricted the Society's activities, but a few dedicated members held the Society together by organising meetings in their own homes until the "blackout" and other restrictions were lifted in 1945. Things then gradually got back to normal.
      After 95 years (in 2004), the Society is still flourishing, has a membership with a wide range of interests, and continues with its regular winter and summer meetings. The botanical and entomological groups are still active, but sadly a number of the ornithologists migrated to the larger specialist organisations such as the RSPB and West Midlands Bird Club. However, there is still a lot of interest amongst the membership and an ornithological group is operating on an informal basis.
      On a number of occasions the Society has mounted public displays at such functions as the Town & Country Festival (at Stoneleigh) and the annual Godiva Festival in Coventry's War Memorial Park.

Education is supported by the Society, which administers the F. J. Shotton Trust Fund, a fund set up in 1960 by the late Professor F. W. Shotton in memory of his father. For information on applying for a Bursary from the F. J. Shotton Trust Fund CLICK HERE

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