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 as the early records are missing from the Society's archive (possibly lost or destroyed during WWII bombing raids on the city) but from 1930 the Society's main activities have been documented in its annual "Proceedings". Over the years, as demand dictated, various specialist groups were 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 102 years, the Society is still flourishing, has a membership with a wide range of interests, and continues with its programme winter and summer meetings. The botanical and entomological groups are still active and an ornithological group is operating on an informal basis. However, there is still a lot of interest amongst the membership and an ornithological group is operating on an informal basis.
The Society's centenary year (2009) was commemorated with a narrowboat trip along Coventry Canal. Click HERE to see the pictures.
The Society has regularly mounted public displays at such events as the (now defunct) Town & Country Festival at Stoneleigh Park and the annual Godiva Festival in Coventry's War Memorial Park.
Education is supported by the Society through 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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