Great North Museum: Hancock Barras Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4PT
Telephone: (0191) 232 6386
Email:nhsn@ncl.ac.uk
Website:http://www.nhsn.ncl.ac.uk

Established in 1829, the Natural History Society of Northumbria (NHSN) is one of the oldest natural history societies in the country.

They own the Great North Museum: Hancock and its many varied collections but they lease them to the University of Newcastle on whose behalf they are administered by Tyne & Wear Archives and Museums.

They maintain the best natural history library in the region and an important archives and we manage a nature reserve in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. They focus on the study of the natural sciences, providing lectures, field outings and education courses and publishing scientific papers and the Birds on the Farne Islands. They are also involved in carrying out nature conservation and research, mainly on their nature reserve and through their Bird Ringing Group.

Most of this work is undertaken by their members on a voluntary basis. They are a membership society and people pay an annual subscription to become a member.

The Society was registered as a UK charity in 1963 and their charitable objectives include:

• The encouragement by every means of the study of natural history in all its branches
• The protection of the local flora and fauna
• The maintenance and extension of the Society’s library and collections
• The publication of ‘Transactions’ and other scientific papers
• The organisation of lectures, discussions and field meetings and co-operation with other scientific societies or associations with similar objectives
• The Society shall also encourage the establishment of sections for the purpose of studying botany, geology and zoology and such other subjects as may from time to time be approved by the Council of the Society.