Benefits of Membership

Membership provides the chance to learn about wildlife, archaeology and geology in a friendly, informal atmosphere in the company of like-minded people. The annual membership offers extremely good value for money.

We have an extensive programme of events ranging from illustrated talks by experts, guided visits to places of interest, including occasional mainland visits, gentle rambles looking at nature and more specialised meetings of small groups to study mammals, birds, insects, plants, fungi, fossils or archaeology. There is, on average, at least one meeting most weeks of the year.

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Publications

We produce a number of publications. All members receive a bi-annual, illustrated Bulletin which keeps them in touch with what’s going on. The new, improved style Bulletin has been well received containing all sorts of interesting snippets, natural history observations and anecdotes as well as reports on recent meetings. All members are encouraged to contribute. In addition, members receive an annual, illustrated Bird report (produced jointly with the Isle of Wight Ornithological Group) and an annual Proceedings, our journal which includes annual reports of mammals, insects, galls, marine life, plants and fungi together with longer scientific papers relevant to the Island. There are frequently interesting papers on the Island’s history and historic landscapes. We also produce occasional, one-off publications on a variety of topics.

Resources

We have an extensive library of reference books and field guides covering all aspects of wildlife, together with Island history, geology and archaeology. Many of these are available for loan by members. The Society archives, together with field note books and diaries of eminent past members of the Society, are held in the library. There are also runs of a number of different journals including those exchanged with natural history societies and field clubs elsewhere in the country. We have a large photographic library. Collectively, this forms an important research resource.

Records

Study sessions are sometimes held at the Society headquarters, which holds the Island’s species database. Recording is an important role of the Society. The software program Mapmate is used to hold many thousands of Island records of plant and animal species, which are continually being updated. This is the principal source of information about the biodiversity of the Island.

The Society headquarters hold some items, such as microscopes and collecting equipment, which may be available as a loan for special studies.

In addition, the Society is able to offer grants, under the Frazer bequest to enable members to carry out studies or to learn skills where this will be of benefit to the Society and its purposes.