Nature in Cambridgeshire is an annual journal that publishes original papers and notes on all aspects of the natural history of Cambridgeshire, including its geology and climate. As is stated in the publication, it is “Published in association with Cambridge Natural History Society (CNHS)” however, it is not the journal of CNHS but an independent peer-reviewed publication.

It was started in 1958 by the then newly-formed Cambridgeshire & Isle of Ely Naturalists’ Trust (CAMBIENT), which is now the the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, with some financial support of the Cambridge Natural History Society. The first issue included the CNHS report for 1956-7 and a list of CNHS members as well as information about CAMBIENT and five articles. Although the early issues were very much as the journal of the Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely Naturalists’ Trust, all featured brief annual reports from CNHS and reports of excursions which were often jointly with CNHS.

In April 1985 CAMBIENT announced that it had decided to stop publishing the journal, explaining the reasons, partly financial, in Issue 27. That slim issue, only 16 pages but including an index to issues 14-27, is available online free of charge (as are all issues except the most recent). However, in 1986 Issue 28, with 64 pages plus cover, appeared, along with an explanation that with “generous ‘pump-priming’ from the William Palmer Memorial Appeal and other sources” the journal had survived.

It has now published over 60 issues under the guidance of an independent Editorial Board which includes members and officers of Cambridge Natural History Society. Recent issues usually include a brief review of CNHS activities in the previous year, with a report on the CNHS field studies and reports of CNHS excursions. In addition, members of CNHS regularly contribute articles on a wide variety of natural history topics.

Nature in Cambridgeshire is an invaluable source of information on the natural history and naturalists of Cambridgeshire. An index to all issues is online and a CD of the first 50 issues can be purchased for £10 (including p & p).