British Naturalists’ Association Encaenia & “Behind the Scenes” event was at the Natural History Museum, London, Saturday 13th September 2025
A number of BNA Essex members attended this national event in London, including the BNA President Roger Tabor HonFBNA. During the Association’s Encaenia, a member of the Essex Branch, who is an outstanding & very experienced naturalist & author, Dr Chris Gibson HonFBNA was Recognised as an honorary Fellow of the Association at the gowned ceremony by the BNA Chairman Steve Rutherford. This was a well deserved recognition of many achievements as a naturalist.
BNA Symposium at Beth Chatto’s Gardens, Elmstead Market, Nr Colchester, Essex, 16-17th August 2025
This 2 day weekend event was held at the stunning Beth Chatto’s Gardens & utilised the well appointed seminar & teaching building that sits beside one of the lakes that Beth Chatto laid out. Field activities including pond dipping & insect searches for a bioblitz occurred. The event owed much to both Beth Chatto’s & to Dr Chris Gibson FBNA, who acts as the Garden’s resident expert naturalist running frequent walks on site. He is an active local BNA Branch member but could not lead a walk as he was recovering from an operation, but it was great he was able to attend for some of the event. On the Sunday 2 talks were given on Grasshoppers & allies one by Professor Ted Benton HonFBNA & another by Dr Tim Gardiner. The BNA President, Roger Tabor HonFBNA, gave a talk on the great naturalist John Ray, who was born at Black Notley in Essex. The event was attended by many BNA members, including BNA Essex members.
BNA AGM was held on Zoom on Saturday 31 May 2025
Field Trip to South Suffolk 22-30 March 2025
Although over the border near Bury St Edmunds, Bradfield Woods at Bradfield St George according to past BNA Hon Fellow Dr Oliver Rackham is one of the best ancient woods in Britain. He noted it was once part of the Abbey of Bury St Edmund’s woods. Bradfield Woods are SSSI & NNR status, & have been under constant coppice management since at least 1252. Rackham noted at the Abbey’s Dissolution in 1538 it had 13 woods over 100 acres in size, by 1950 6 were intact, but now the only intact survivor is Felshamhall Wood (in Bradfield Woods).
During our early Spring visit the extensive areas of Ramsons (Wild Garlic, alt Wood Garlic, alt Bear’s Garlic) were in good leaf but not yet opened in flower. The ‘Bear’s Garlic’ name is enshrined in their Latin name of Allium ursinium. Some Oxlips were in full flower, mainly those at edges of rides, but more would be following on.
The woods are a noted Nightingale site. Studies at Bradfield Woods at Bradfield Woods found coppice growth of 3-8 years after cutting provided ideal habitat for Nightingales & older coppice less so.
BNA Essex Stand at Eco-Fair at Brightlingsea, Essex, Saturday 15th February 2025
This was held in St James Church in the High Street of Brightlingsea from 10.00am to 3.00pm & attracted a lot of interest with many attending. The BNA Essex Branch Stand was manned by Martin Rapley FBNA, Sara Biggins ABNA & Roger Tabor HonFBNA.