May 23rd 2007 is the tercentenary of Linnaeus’s birth. There is not a lot to be said about him. The moralistic basis of his Systema Naturae seems sexist and absurd in light of today’s politically correct, neo-Darwinian state of knowledge, but biologists and naturalists all use his binomial system of nomenclature as if there were no other. Binomial latin names (genus and species) are internationally accepted and unambiguous. Other systems have been introduced, such as numerical nomenclature for some groups of bacteria, and bar coding has been suggested too, but none is likely to supplant Linnaeus's scheme. Besides, a list of numbers is not nearly as romantic as Latin. So, there's good reason to celebrate the life of Carolus Linnaeus!

That the SNS is not a campaigning organisation is sometimes a source of frustration to yours truly. However, I am allowed to sound off in this column and just occasionally it produces results. Those, few I suspect, who read the editorial in the previous edition will recall that I was castigating Ipswich Borough Council for reportedly failing in new plans for the museum service to safeguard the natural history collections at the Ipswich Museum. (Despite the SNS being a major stakeholder in the museum, we were not included in IBC’s consultations.) Optimistic developments are reported later on.

In a similar vein I hear that Bob Stebbings, our President, has spent over six weeks involved in the ‘SnOasis’ Inquiry (opposing the development of course) not representing SNS but as an international authority on bats. The SWT, Natural England and the parish councils are opposing as well but the scheme is supported by the County Council and Mid Suffolk DC. If the proposal goes ahead, a lot of valuable habitats will be lost, including breeding sites for Schedule 1 birds, 300 sand martin nests, invertebrates, a large County wildlife site and habitat loss could threaten one of the largest hibernation population of bats in Britain, which is only 500m away. At least three Pond bats were found, so there is a possibility that this internationally endangered species has a colony in Suffolk whose survival might be in doubt. All Bob’s time is unpaid, like all the other volunteers, so it must cost him a fortune to be there. How indebted we are to him and his colleagues.

Elsewhere in this issue David Nash throws down a nice challenge for us all—help him clarify the status of the Rose chafer in Suffolk. It’s not difficult, so let’s have a go. There’s also a superb programme of field events to enjoy—see the menu.

Have a good season!