Catch up with members of Cambridge Natural History Society at the CNHS Seasonal Social, and enjoy some wine or soft drinks and light refreshments. There will be an informal quiz.
The Social is on Thursday 11 December, 6.30-8.30pm in the David Attenborough Building, New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ. On foot this is less then 10 minutes from Drummer St bus station, and there are plenty of cycle racks. There is no parking on the New Museums Site – the nearest car park is the Grand Arcade.
This exhibition of works by members of the Society of Wildlife Artists (SWLA) at Stapleford Granary is open until 13th January 2026 and well worth a visit.
The works have been selected from has been selected from those exhibited in the 2025 Mall Gallery exhibition by artist and SWLA vice president Bruce Pearson. Exhibitors include Carry Akroyd, CNHS Patron Dafila Scott, SWLA President Harriet Mead and many others.The exhibits demonstrate the importance of art in communicating the wonders of wildlife and the natural world. There is a great variety of media: drawings and paintings, prints and sculptures; and lots of depictions of birds, but also butterflies and shield bugs, an otter and elephants and a flowery meadow.
Stapleford Granary is an attractive venue, created from old farm buildings, and also has a good cafe.
EXHIBITION OPENING TIMES Walkway & Foyer-bar: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 8:30am – 4:00pm Wednesday – CLOSED Saturday 9:00am – 3:00pm | Sunday 10:00am – 3:00pm Please note that they occasionally have to close the foyer bar part of the exhibition space: please check their website before visiting.
Cambridge Natural History Society have organised four talks, in addition to the joint event with the Cambridge Beekeepers’ Association, in October. These take place on Thursdays at 6:45 p.m. Please arrive punctually. Tea/coffee available beforehand.
Admission free. All welcome.
Talks take place in the David Attenborough Building, New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ. On foot this is less then 10 minutes from Drummer St bus station, and there are plenty of cycle racks. There is no parking on the New Museums Site – the nearest car park is the Grand Arcade.
As you enter the New Museums Site the David Attenborough Building is in front of you. The entrance is on the podium level, reached by the steps or there’s a lift if you walk along with the building on your right.
Most CNHS talks are also available via Zoom. Details will be sent to those on the CNHS mailing list. To join the list email cnhs_mailings-join@cnhs.org.uk – you will then get emails back from the system telling you what to do next.
Thursday 9th October The Past and Future of Natural History Brian Eversham
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Thursday 16th October Searching for (and finding) Snow Leopards Peter Pilbeam
Thursday 23rd October Conserving Butterflies: Past, Present and Future Matt Hayes
Thursday 30th October Plastics in the Environment Claire Barlow
The Cambridge Natural History Society autumn talks series starts with a special event, jointly with the Cambridge Beekeepers’ Association, on Wednesday 1st October, when Dr Dino Martins will talk about the relationship between honeybees and people. Honeybees are one of the most familiar and widespread insects that are kept, managed, exploited and familiar to humanity. It is often said that ‘There is a crisis around bees’, but the reality is that overall honeybee numbers are actually increasing worldwide, the result of more intensive management, mass production and commercial trade of queens and colonies. With examples drawn from around the world, this talk will highlight the complex, multi-faceted relationship we have with honeybees and explore how we can all play a role in better stewardship of the planet.
Talks take place in the David Attenborough Building, New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ. On foot this is less then 10 minutes from Drummer St bus station, and there are plenty of cycle racks. There is no parking on the New Museums Site – the nearest car park is the Grand Arcade.
As you enter the New Museums Site the David Attenborough Building is in front of you. The entrance is on the podium level, reached by the steps or there’s a lift if you walk along with the building on your right.
The subsequent talks will be on Thursdays at 6:45 p.m. in the same venue.
Thursday 9th October The Past and Future of Natural History Brian Eversham Thursday 16th OctoberSearching for (and finding) Snow Leopards Peter Pilbeam Thursday 23rd OctoberConserving Butterflies: Past, Present and Future Matt Hayes Thursday 30th OctoberPlastics in the Environment Claire Barlow
Thursday 6thNovember Looking for the Goshawk – the Lost Raptor Conor Jameson Thursday 13thNovemberUnsung Songbirds: Vocal Communication and Cognition in Corvids Claudia Wascher Thursday 20th NovemberA Visit to the Vercors Monica Frisch Thursday 27thNovemberThe Little Wilbraham River: a chalk stream living dangerously David Lomas
Henry Stanier, who gave a talk about the Great Fen in February, tells us that the Wildlife Trust has arranged a rather special, in-depth all-day tour of the Great Fen on Saturday 14th June.
It showcases the work of the Great Fen Partnership (management & monitoring) and highlights the legacy of the conservation vision of Charles Rothschild. We investigate a range of habitats, and we get close to the wildlife (e.g. bird ringing, moth trapping, great crested newts, dragonflies, wildflowers, plus more birds and mammals)! It also raises funds for our work at the Trust.
You will visit land not open to the public and discover the past, present and future of wildlife conservation in the Fens. We will also view the next phase of the ‘Peatland Progress’ project, as we link the north and south of the Great Fen together and see the results of restoration taking place!
The 106th Conversazione and Nat Hist Fest on Saturday 19th April went very well. There were around 30 exhibits, covering many aspects of natural history from amphibians to water resources, and including the Fen Edge Trail, moths, peregrines in Cambridge, stinging nettles and much more. The list of Exhibitors and Exhibits is available here as a pdf.
There were two entries for the Student Prize, from Kevin Siyuan Cheng on “Moth trapping around Cambridge” and from Maito Shiode on “Advancements in Stellar Calculations by Cambridge Professors”. Both were given prizes. We would like more exhibits from students – so, if you are a student, do think about exhibiting in 2026. Details of the Student Prize are here and we will announce the date for the 107th Conversazione as soon as it is fixed.
If you missed the event – as it was on the Saturday of Easter weekend we were aware that many people might be away – we have photographs of the various displays on our Facebook page: Just click here to see them: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1117166120455639&type=3
The 106th Conversazione and Nat Hist Fest is on Saturday 19th April and the list of Exhibitors and Exhibits in now available here as a pdf.
For over 100 years Cambridge Natural History Society has held an annual exhibition, with displays on many aspects of natural history from its members, local naturalists and local organisations. It is traditionally called ‘The Conversazione’ because it is a social event where those attending can not only look at displays but also talk to the exhibitors.
This year it will be for ONE DAY only on Saturday 19th April and in a new venue: the David Attenborough Building, adjacent to the Museum of Zoology – many thanks to CCI Services Ltd for enabling us to use the David Attenborough Building.
The 106th annual Conversazione & NatHistFest is on Saturday 19th April for ONE DAY ONLY and in a new venue: the David Attenborough Building, but just as central.
Exhibits will include news of Peregrines in Cambridge; Diversity in Moths; Stinging Nettles (Urtica dioica): Naughty but Nice; College Biodiversity; Local Geology and Landscape; and much more.
The 106th Annual Conversazione and NatHistFest will be held
FOR ONE DAY ONLY ON Easter Saturday 19th April 2025
in the David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ
Cambridge Natural History Society’s Annual Exhibition provides opportunities
to meet local, national and international naturalists;
to meet like-minded enthusiasts and share ideas;
for the Society’s members to show what they have been doing;
for researchers to present their work;
for local organisations to publicise their activities; and
for everyone to learn about natural history and find out what is going on.
PLEASE CONSIDER EXHIBITING
Exhibits can be on any aspect of natural history and there is no charge for exhibiting. Download more details here
New exhibitors are welcome and there is a prize for the best exhibit(s) from exhibitor who was a school pupil, college or university student at the time of the Conversazione. Details here.
