Natural History Society of Northumbria

07/09/2026

Every step counts! Let's rally behind our incredible Great North Runners and empower a brighter future for Gosforth Nature Reserve 🏃🏃‍♀️. Donate now via the link in comments and be part of the change!

07/09/2026

What have you spotted on the this week? 📸

From the upper reaches of the Ouse Burn to the Lower Ouseburn Valley, there’s wildlife to discover all along the corridor. The more we know about what’s here, the better we can understand and protect it. That’s where iRecord comes in.

iRecord is the best way to submit your wildlife sightings along the Ouse Burn, giving us a consistent way to bring records together from across the whole corridor. Your sightings can also be checked by expert verifiers, helping us build a reliable picture of the species found here.

And you don’t need to be an expert. A photo, a location and a date can be incredibly useful. Whether it’s a common plant in your garden, a butterfly in the park or something you’ve never seen before, your records all help.

Here are a few lovely insects spotted along the Ouse Burn this week 👀

Black Darter © Philip Jordan
Hieroglyphic Ladybird © Christopher Wren
Holly Blue © John Dixon

📱 Join the Ouse Burn Way recording project:
https://irecord.org.uk/join/wildlife-on-the-ouse-burn-way

05/09/2026

One of the city’s toughest trees 🌳

One of the most familiar trees of our towns and cities, London Plane is a common sight along streets, in parks and around some of Newcastle’s busiest spaces. Its mottled, peeling bark and large, maple-like leaves make it surprisingly distinctive once you know what to look for.

In the latest video, NHSN Ouse Burn Naturalist, Common by Nature, takes a closer look at London Plane and some of the features that can help you identify it.

Next time you’re exploring the , keep an eye out for this familiar tree! 🌳

04/09/2026

Thank you to members and supporters who have helped us raise funds for NHSN's Young North East Naturalist Appeal so far!🎉

We are delighted to have raised £4,902 and would love your help to reach our target of £5,000.

The North East Young Naturalists Appeal brightens up the lives of children and young people who lack the opportunity to experience nature, even on their own doorstep. 100% of your donations directly benefits young naturalists.

If you'd like to donate, please follow the link in the comments👇

04/09/2026

NHSN will be joining this year's Allotment and Garden Festival at Exhibtion Park!

Come along to chat to us, learn more about North East Nature and take away some free nature resouces.🐞

02/09/2026

01/09/2026

It's World Letter Writing Day!

Today, we're thinking about the remarkable stories hidden in the correspondence preserved in NHSN's North East Nature Archive (NENA). Through these letters, naturalists shared observations, exchanged specimens, discussed new discoveries and built lasting friendships.

On 1 May 1851, for example, the naturalist Charles W. G. St John wrote to John Hancock about a pair of Peregrine Falcons he had recently sent for Hancock's collection. But there is something else remarkable enclosed with the letter: seven feathers, sent to Hancock to help St John identify a bird he believed to be an Iceland Falcon (now known as a Gyrfalcon).

More than 175 years later, the letter and its feathers remain in the archive, preserving a conversation between two naturalists and offering a remarkable connection to the people, places and wildlife of the past.

29/08/2026

Have you ever stopped to look at the plants of the Lower Ouseburn? 🌻🏙️

We’re excited to launch a new series exploring the plantlife of the , starting with the Lower Ouseburn Valley.

In the first blog, NHSN Ouse Burn Naturalist and author of the Urban Flora of Newcastle, James, takes a closer look at the plants growing in this fascinating urban landscape, from familiar wildflowers to some more unexpected species.

We’ll be sharing lots more sites over the coming weeks. How many of the plants featured can you spot?

🌱 Read the first blog:
https://www.nhsn.org.uk/plants-of-the-ouse-burn-the-lower-ouseburn/

29/08/2026

Common Lime 🌳🌿

Common Lime is one of the most familiar trees in our parks, streets and woodlands. Its heart-shaped leaves, hairy veins and distinctive growth form make it a useful tree to get to know.

In the latest video from our new tree trail series, NHSN Ouse Burn Naturalist, James, takes a closer look at Common Lime and some of the features that can help you identify it.

Next time you’re exploring the , keep an eye out for this familiar but beautiful tree! 🌳

27/08/2026

Are you a young person, early career naturalist, student or career changer? If so, we've got some exciting news for you!🦋

NHSN are hosting their first 'Wild Futures Conference' on Saturday 19 September at the Great North Musuem: Hancock.🎤

Spend the day celebrating nature with a friendly community of nature lovers. Expect inspiring lightning talks, hands-on workshops, panel discussions, stalls, networking and outdoor activities, all designed to help you discover new opportunities, build connections and leave feeling inspired.

Book your free spot in the comments below!👇