WINTER 2003 EDITORIAL

Why do people join the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society and what do they expect from it? These questions were at the heart of a discussion held by Council at its most recent meeting. It is difficult to divine the answers because we receive little feedback from the majority of members. One view is that most members are content to enjoy the Society’s three publications but prefer to remain otherwise passive, or ‘do their own thing’. Another is that members would like to engage more and so would prefer a more interactive prospectus. It has been suggested that failing to do this explains a small but steady decline in our numbers: not critical but neither to be ignored. Comparing levels of member engagement with our neighbouring counterpart, the Essex Naturalists’ Club shows that, from a much smaller membership, they have approximately three times the level of participation.

The SNS Constitution states that its primary objective is “to study and record the fauna, flora and geology of the County”. However, there is an unashamed emphasis on recording, with the study aspect left to a very small handful of enthusiasts. Recording is of course worthy in its own right, and an essential tool of the conservationists, but should it be the preoccupation of a natural history society? Also, are recorders sufficiently accessible?

The County of Suffolk and its natural history are not the same as they were in 1929 when the SNS was founded. Changes in the scale and character of farming, ingress and growth of population in major conurbations, road building, coastal erosion, pollution and climate change have all made an impact. In contrast the Society has changed relatively little. Has the change been enough?

Please let us have your opinions on all these questions!

In the meantime Council decided to try and raise member participation in several ways:

• November Members’ Evening  - the format will be modified to provide a sort of conversazione, giving more time for social interaction, and displays of, for example, specimens and photographs. There will be short talks from Officers and Recorders and less time spent on the quiz.
• Some field meetings will be arranged around a theme, and will include a ‘workshop’ structure suitable for all skill levels.
• Reporting and discussion oftopical phenomena will be encouraged by offering prizes for the best contributions to White Admiral.
• Officers and Recorders – at events will identify themselves by wearing name badges.

 These are modest changes designed to raise interest among members in the activities of the Society. We will be able to measure their success by monitoring attendance at events, but it would be preferable to hear directly from you.

Each issue of White Admiral for the last few years has included a set of species and habitat action plans from Suffolk’s Biodiversity Action Plan. Each set has been prefaced by a commentary written by Rob Parker. This issue sees the final collection of plans. I should like to place on record the deep gratitude of the Society to Rob for the time and thought that he has applied in this respect. Rob contributes regularly in other ways too. For example, he has written a report on this year’s conference and a book review, both of which are in this edition. However, his interpretation and placing into context of the plans has been particularly valuable – accurate, balanced and stimulating. This input has been very much appreciated – and it was always delivered early! Thank you Rob.

More by accident than design the conclusion of this feature coincides with the five-year audit of the Suffolk BAP by the Suffolk Biodiversity Partnership; Harriet Shackle has been good enough to provide a paper summarising the progress made so far in achieving the objectives of the overall plan.

We must also report, with great sadness, that Francis Simpson MBE
died on the 10th November 2003 aged 91 years

An obituary will follow in the Transactions of the society

© 2003   Suffolk Naturalists' Society