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About Us

NHSN is a voluntary organisation run by its membership. With your support, volunteers make a difference for nature, from the Tees to the Tweed.

Our Vision

Nature is protected, restored, and celebrated through greater awareness, understanding and enjoyment by people in North East England.

Our Purpose

Our fundamental purpose remains unchanged since 1829: to study and protect nature. The history of NHSN contributes a significant legacy and contribution to UK natural history and as the nature conservation sector grows and evolves, we must adapt our purpose to be relevant to the present day and the future.

Our Values

  • Inspiring (imaginative, curious, outward, and relevant)
  • Welcoming (inclusive, collaborative, sociable and nurturing)
  • Knowledgeable (scientific, robust and reputable)
  • Professional (responsive, supportive and respectful)

The strength and uniqueness of NHSN is that for almost 200 years we have been the only general natural history organisation that provides a forum for naturalists across the North East, from the Tees to the Tweed. We are home to enthusiasts, practitioners, and scholars of natural history; a place where individuals and groups study and share their discoveries about nature to protect the natural world. Where once we popularised access to natural history through our Hancock Museum, we now use our journal, talks, nature reserve, field trips, magazine and digital channels.

NHSN’s Towards 2029 strategy sets out our long term aims over the next 10-years. You can download your copy here.”

Jonathan Hewitt, NHSN Chair

Governance

NHSN is a registered charity with around 2000 members. NHSN’s membership runs the organisation through an elected Council. Elections are held at an Annual Meeting which normally takes place during the winter months. Members of Council are elected for a term of 3 years.

Council meets three times per year and is NHSN’s key decision-making body although it has established a number of Committees to focus on particular areas of work, such as the running of the nature reserve or the library.

Members of Council are also Trustees for NHSN and as such are responsible in law for the NHSN’s organisation and activities.

Constitution

The rules by which the NHSN conducts its business are set out in our constitution. You can read or download this by clicking here. Changes to the constitution may be proposed at the NHSN Annual Meeting.

NHSN Annual Report and Financial Statement

You can now download a copy of NHSN’s Annual Report and Annual Financial Statement.

Financial Accounts

NHSN submits its annual financial statements to the Charity Commission and these can be viewed on the Charity Commission website. Our annual financial statements are independently examined by an accountant and made available to our members. NHSN’s financial year starts on 1st August.

Charitable Objectives

NHSN was registered as a UK charity in 1963 and our 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

NHSN 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.

Registered charity number: 526770

Our Promise to You

Our supporters and volunteers are at the very heart of what we do. Our Supporter Promise sets out exactly what you can expect when dealing with NHSN.

Our Supporter Promise›

Our Story so Far

For almost two centuries, the passion and enthusiasm of NHSN members has made a difference for North East nature.

A community for people of all interests, backgrounds and experience levels, you can now explore the history of NHSN in a new interactive timeline.

Explore the history of NHSN›