Whitby Naturalists
@whitbynats.bsky.social
Interests in natural history, geology, local history and archaeology. Active in conservation, recording, education. Lectures, field trips & visits, workshops, surveys.
Sat 22nd Nov 2025
2pm Normanby Room Whitby Museum
Whitby Ghost Signs
By Peter Craggs
Typically historic hand painted advertising signs or old shop signs preserved on buildings that have since changed use.
An important part of the historic fabric on our high streets.
Members £1
Visitors £2
2pm Normanby Room Whitby Museum
Whitby Ghost Signs
By Peter Craggs
Typically historic hand painted advertising signs or old shop signs preserved on buildings that have since changed use.
An important part of the historic fabric on our high streets.
Members £1
Visitors £2
November 17, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Sat 22nd Nov 2025
2pm Normanby Room Whitby Museum
Whitby Ghost Signs
By Peter Craggs
Typically historic hand painted advertising signs or old shop signs preserved on buildings that have since changed use.
An important part of the historic fabric on our high streets.
Members £1
Visitors £2
2pm Normanby Room Whitby Museum
Whitby Ghost Signs
By Peter Craggs
Typically historic hand painted advertising signs or old shop signs preserved on buildings that have since changed use.
An important part of the historic fabric on our high streets.
Members £1
Visitors £2
Sat 15th Nov 2025
2pm Normanby Room
Whitby Museum
Svalbard Adventures-then and now
By Elaine Hoyle ,Curator of Natural History
She and Phil (Scoresby curator) visited the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard at the convergence of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans.
Members £1
Visitors £2
2pm Normanby Room
Whitby Museum
Svalbard Adventures-then and now
By Elaine Hoyle ,Curator of Natural History
She and Phil (Scoresby curator) visited the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard at the convergence of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans.
Members £1
Visitors £2
November 10, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Sat 15th Nov 2025
2pm Normanby Room
Whitby Museum
Svalbard Adventures-then and now
By Elaine Hoyle ,Curator of Natural History
She and Phil (Scoresby curator) visited the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard at the convergence of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans.
Members £1
Visitors £2
2pm Normanby Room
Whitby Museum
Svalbard Adventures-then and now
By Elaine Hoyle ,Curator of Natural History
She and Phil (Scoresby curator) visited the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard at the convergence of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans.
Members £1
Visitors £2
Sat 8th Nov 2025
2pm Normanby Room Whitby museum
Strandlines - a window into the marine life on our doorstep by
Keith Clarkson
Looking at marine life of our sandy shores and seas , and washed up on the strandlines of Hunmanby Gap , Filey bay
Want to get involved locally?
Members £2
Visitors £1
2pm Normanby Room Whitby museum
Strandlines - a window into the marine life on our doorstep by
Keith Clarkson
Looking at marine life of our sandy shores and seas , and washed up on the strandlines of Hunmanby Gap , Filey bay
Want to get involved locally?
Members £2
Visitors £1
November 3, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Sat 8th Nov 2025
2pm Normanby Room Whitby museum
Strandlines - a window into the marine life on our doorstep by
Keith Clarkson
Looking at marine life of our sandy shores and seas , and washed up on the strandlines of Hunmanby Gap , Filey bay
Want to get involved locally?
Members £2
Visitors £1
2pm Normanby Room Whitby museum
Strandlines - a window into the marine life on our doorstep by
Keith Clarkson
Looking at marine life of our sandy shores and seas , and washed up on the strandlines of Hunmanby Gap , Filey bay
Want to get involved locally?
Members £2
Visitors £1
Next lecture, Sat. 25th October at 14.00, ''Why are there two Medieval Castles in Mulgrave Woods'' by Christiane Kroebel. The talk will explore what their location may tell us about power, manors, townships and settlements in the period from 1066 to c.1700. Venue @whitbymuseum.bsky.social
October 19, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Next lecture, Sat. 25th October at 14.00, ''Why are there two Medieval Castles in Mulgrave Woods'' by Christiane Kroebel. The talk will explore what their location may tell us about power, manors, townships and settlements in the period from 1066 to c.1700. Venue @whitbymuseum.bsky.social
Say 18th Oct 2025
Normanby Room Whitby Museum
Saving May Moss - 50 years of conservation and science
By Brian Walker
How the most important, intact peat bog on NYM was saved , a beacon of citizen science and climate research . Personal stories, history +science .
1974-2024
Member £1 Visitor £2
Normanby Room Whitby Museum
Saving May Moss - 50 years of conservation and science
By Brian Walker
How the most important, intact peat bog on NYM was saved , a beacon of citizen science and climate research . Personal stories, history +science .
1974-2024
Member £1 Visitor £2
October 14, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Say 18th Oct 2025
Normanby Room Whitby Museum
Saving May Moss - 50 years of conservation and science
By Brian Walker
How the most important, intact peat bog on NYM was saved , a beacon of citizen science and climate research . Personal stories, history +science .
1974-2024
Member £1 Visitor £2
Normanby Room Whitby Museum
Saving May Moss - 50 years of conservation and science
By Brian Walker
How the most important, intact peat bog on NYM was saved , a beacon of citizen science and climate research . Personal stories, history +science .
1974-2024
Member £1 Visitor £2
Sat 11th Oct 2025 2pm
Normanby Room, Whitby Museum
The Rarity Garden
By Richard Baines
This talk is the story of his decade spent observing wildlife in one small garden perched on the cliffs of Flamborough Headland leading to his recently published book
Copies available
Members £1 Visitors £2
Normanby Room, Whitby Museum
The Rarity Garden
By Richard Baines
This talk is the story of his decade spent observing wildlife in one small garden perched on the cliffs of Flamborough Headland leading to his recently published book
Copies available
Members £1 Visitors £2
October 3, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Sat 11th Oct 2025 2pm
Normanby Room, Whitby Museum
The Rarity Garden
By Richard Baines
This talk is the story of his decade spent observing wildlife in one small garden perched on the cliffs of Flamborough Headland leading to his recently published book
Copies available
Members £1 Visitors £2
Normanby Room, Whitby Museum
The Rarity Garden
By Richard Baines
This talk is the story of his decade spent observing wildlife in one small garden perched on the cliffs of Flamborough Headland leading to his recently published book
Copies available
Members £1 Visitors £2
'Pebbles on the Beach at Stoupe Beck ' with Tony Kearsley
Sun 21st Sept 2025 10 am, new date
Meet at Boggle Hole slipway
Parking on Mill Bank YO22 4UQ
Steep walk down
Walk along beach to Stoupe Beck
Examine diverse pebbles from many different places
Returning to BH YHA to review + refreshments
Sun 21st Sept 2025 10 am, new date
Meet at Boggle Hole slipway
Parking on Mill Bank YO22 4UQ
Steep walk down
Walk along beach to Stoupe Beck
Examine diverse pebbles from many different places
Returning to BH YHA to review + refreshments
September 17, 2025 at 3:35 PM
'Pebbles on the Beach at Stoupe Beck ' with Tony Kearsley
Sun 21st Sept 2025 10 am, new date
Meet at Boggle Hole slipway
Parking on Mill Bank YO22 4UQ
Steep walk down
Walk along beach to Stoupe Beck
Examine diverse pebbles from many different places
Returning to BH YHA to review + refreshments
Sun 21st Sept 2025 10 am, new date
Meet at Boggle Hole slipway
Parking on Mill Bank YO22 4UQ
Steep walk down
Walk along beach to Stoupe Beck
Examine diverse pebbles from many different places
Returning to BH YHA to review + refreshments
Sat 4th Oct 2025 at 2 pm
Normanby Room Whitby Museum
Our first talk of 2025/26
'What is the Non-native Species Inspectorate and what do we do?
Speaker Courtney Graham from the Animal and Plant Agency
Current projects and information about non- native species
Members £1, Visitors £2
Normanby Room Whitby Museum
Our first talk of 2025/26
'What is the Non-native Species Inspectorate and what do we do?
Speaker Courtney Graham from the Animal and Plant Agency
Current projects and information about non- native species
Members £1, Visitors £2
September 16, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Sat 4th Oct 2025 at 2 pm
Normanby Room Whitby Museum
Our first talk of 2025/26
'What is the Non-native Species Inspectorate and what do we do?
Speaker Courtney Graham from the Animal and Plant Agency
Current projects and information about non- native species
Members £1, Visitors £2
Normanby Room Whitby Museum
Our first talk of 2025/26
'What is the Non-native Species Inspectorate and what do we do?
Speaker Courtney Graham from the Animal and Plant Agency
Current projects and information about non- native species
Members £1, Visitors £2
In 2024, St Hilda's Church, West Cliff, Whitby gave permission to Whitby Swifts for specially made swift boxes to be installed in the belfry. A swift call system was used to attract the birds. This year, swifts used at least 3 of the boxes. Success! @rspbengland.bsky.social
August 24, 2025 at 8:23 PM
In 2024, St Hilda's Church, West Cliff, Whitby gave permission to Whitby Swifts for specially made swift boxes to be installed in the belfry. A swift call system was used to attract the birds. This year, swifts used at least 3 of the boxes. Success! @rspbengland.bsky.social
Installing habitat blocks on a disused slipway in Whitby Harbour today, thanks to Groundworks NE and the BEACH Esk Project.
April 30, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Installing habitat blocks on a disused slipway in Whitby Harbour today, thanks to Groundworks NE and the BEACH Esk Project.
Field trip to see amphibians at May Beck last week. Palmate newts, toads, frog tadpoles & frog & toad spawn all seen.
@arc-trust.bsky.social
@arc-trust.bsky.social
April 5, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Field trip to see amphibians at May Beck last week. Palmate newts, toads, frog tadpoles & frog & toad spawn all seen.
@arc-trust.bsky.social
@arc-trust.bsky.social
Saturday 22nd March 2025 2pm
What's the future for lobsters?
Joe Redfern, founder and General Manager- Whitby Lobster Hatchery & Whitby Marine Discovery Centre
Covering the hatchery progress, current and future research plans + the state of national crustacean populations.
Members £1
Visitors £2
What's the future for lobsters?
Joe Redfern, founder and General Manager- Whitby Lobster Hatchery & Whitby Marine Discovery Centre
Covering the hatchery progress, current and future research plans + the state of national crustacean populations.
Members £1
Visitors £2
March 20, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Saturday 22nd March 2025 2pm
What's the future for lobsters?
Joe Redfern, founder and General Manager- Whitby Lobster Hatchery & Whitby Marine Discovery Centre
Covering the hatchery progress, current and future research plans + the state of national crustacean populations.
Members £1
Visitors £2
What's the future for lobsters?
Joe Redfern, founder and General Manager- Whitby Lobster Hatchery & Whitby Marine Discovery Centre
Covering the hatchery progress, current and future research plans + the state of national crustacean populations.
Members £1
Visitors £2
Sat 15th March 2pm
Normanby Room Whitby Museum
Conserving fungi in Africa's Miombo woodland
David Minter
The planet's refuse workers, without fungi we wouldn't be here. Providing antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs, biological control agents, statins , food, drink + much more.
Members £1
Visitors £2
Normanby Room Whitby Museum
Conserving fungi in Africa's Miombo woodland
David Minter
The planet's refuse workers, without fungi we wouldn't be here. Providing antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs, biological control agents, statins , food, drink + much more.
Members £1
Visitors £2
March 13, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Sat 15th March 2pm
Normanby Room Whitby Museum
Conserving fungi in Africa's Miombo woodland
David Minter
The planet's refuse workers, without fungi we wouldn't be here. Providing antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs, biological control agents, statins , food, drink + much more.
Members £1
Visitors £2
Normanby Room Whitby Museum
Conserving fungi in Africa's Miombo woodland
David Minter
The planet's refuse workers, without fungi we wouldn't be here. Providing antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs, biological control agents, statins , food, drink + much more.
Members £1
Visitors £2
Sat 8th March 2pm
Normanby Room Whitby Museum
Bempton Cliffs-not just a seabird city
Will Scott Consultant Ornithologist , passionate birder and ringer.
Widely known for its seabird colonies, Bempton is also a hotspot for bird migration, some rarities and residents.
Members £1 Visitors £2
Normanby Room Whitby Museum
Bempton Cliffs-not just a seabird city
Will Scott Consultant Ornithologist , passionate birder and ringer.
Widely known for its seabird colonies, Bempton is also a hotspot for bird migration, some rarities and residents.
Members £1 Visitors £2
March 2, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Sat 8th March 2pm
Normanby Room Whitby Museum
Bempton Cliffs-not just a seabird city
Will Scott Consultant Ornithologist , passionate birder and ringer.
Widely known for its seabird colonies, Bempton is also a hotspot for bird migration, some rarities and residents.
Members £1 Visitors £2
Normanby Room Whitby Museum
Bempton Cliffs-not just a seabird city
Will Scott Consultant Ornithologist , passionate birder and ringer.
Widely known for its seabird colonies, Bempton is also a hotspot for bird migration, some rarities and residents.
Members £1 Visitors £2
Saturday 1st March
2 pm Normanby Room, Whitby Museum
Whitby harbour - a pictorial view over the years
Neil Williamson is Whitby RNLI Museum Curator and Whitby Museum Photographic Curator with a particular interest in the coast and the harbour.
All welcome.
Club members £1, Visitors £2.
2 pm Normanby Room, Whitby Museum
Whitby harbour - a pictorial view over the years
Neil Williamson is Whitby RNLI Museum Curator and Whitby Museum Photographic Curator with a particular interest in the coast and the harbour.
All welcome.
Club members £1, Visitors £2.
February 26, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Saturday 1st March
2 pm Normanby Room, Whitby Museum
Whitby harbour - a pictorial view over the years
Neil Williamson is Whitby RNLI Museum Curator and Whitby Museum Photographic Curator with a particular interest in the coast and the harbour.
All welcome.
Club members £1, Visitors £2.
2 pm Normanby Room, Whitby Museum
Whitby harbour - a pictorial view over the years
Neil Williamson is Whitby RNLI Museum Curator and Whitby Museum Photographic Curator with a particular interest in the coast and the harbour.
All welcome.
Club members £1, Visitors £2.
Results of the Club Photography Competition 2024
1st place Joan Childs
Marasmus Hudson, Holly Parachute
2nd place Elaine Tranter
Greenshank with Dragonfly lunch
3rd place Jane Pottas
Dew drops on spiders web
A very high standard of entries with difficult choices for the judges.
1st place Joan Childs
Marasmus Hudson, Holly Parachute
2nd place Elaine Tranter
Greenshank with Dragonfly lunch
3rd place Jane Pottas
Dew drops on spiders web
A very high standard of entries with difficult choices for the judges.
February 25, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Results of the Club Photography Competition 2024
1st place Joan Childs
Marasmus Hudson, Holly Parachute
2nd place Elaine Tranter
Greenshank with Dragonfly lunch
3rd place Jane Pottas
Dew drops on spiders web
A very high standard of entries with difficult choices for the judges.
1st place Joan Childs
Marasmus Hudson, Holly Parachute
2nd place Elaine Tranter
Greenshank with Dragonfly lunch
3rd place Jane Pottas
Dew drops on spiders web
A very high standard of entries with difficult choices for the judges.
Saturday 22nd February 2pm
Normanby Room. Whitby Museum.
Photography Competition
Entries in each class will be shown , the winner of each class announced and the overall winner revealed.
Come along and see the excellent entries and winners.
Club members £1, visitors £2
Last years photos below.
Normanby Room. Whitby Museum.
Photography Competition
Entries in each class will be shown , the winner of each class announced and the overall winner revealed.
Come along and see the excellent entries and winners.
Club members £1, visitors £2
Last years photos below.
February 18, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Saturday 22nd February 2pm
Normanby Room. Whitby Museum.
Photography Competition
Entries in each class will be shown , the winner of each class announced and the overall winner revealed.
Come along and see the excellent entries and winners.
Club members £1, visitors £2
Last years photos below.
Normanby Room. Whitby Museum.
Photography Competition
Entries in each class will be shown , the winner of each class announced and the overall winner revealed.
Come along and see the excellent entries and winners.
Club members £1, visitors £2
Last years photos below.
Sat 15th Feb 2 pm
Whitby Museum
Why record plants?
Wendy English , Whitby Naturalists Botany Recorder
Anyone who can recognise plants can contribute a record to BSBI and by the end of the talk you may be encouraged to do so.
Members £1
Visitors £2
Whitby Museum
Why record plants?
Wendy English , Whitby Naturalists Botany Recorder
Anyone who can recognise plants can contribute a record to BSBI and by the end of the talk you may be encouraged to do so.
Members £1
Visitors £2
February 12, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Sat 15th Feb 2 pm
Whitby Museum
Why record plants?
Wendy English , Whitby Naturalists Botany Recorder
Anyone who can recognise plants can contribute a record to BSBI and by the end of the talk you may be encouraged to do so.
Members £1
Visitors £2
Whitby Museum
Why record plants?
Wendy English , Whitby Naturalists Botany Recorder
Anyone who can recognise plants can contribute a record to BSBI and by the end of the talk you may be encouraged to do so.
Members £1
Visitors £2
Atmospheric Phenomena
Rick Harwood
2 pm Sat 1st February.
Eastside Community Centre, Abbot’s Road Whitby YO22 4EA
The interaction of light with the physical and chemical components of the atmosphere. The structure of the atmosphere, clouds, weather phenomena , aurora.
Club members £1, Visitors £2
Rick Harwood
2 pm Sat 1st February.
Eastside Community Centre, Abbot’s Road Whitby YO22 4EA
The interaction of light with the physical and chemical components of the atmosphere. The structure of the atmosphere, clouds, weather phenomena , aurora.
Club members £1, Visitors £2
January 27, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Atmospheric Phenomena
Rick Harwood
2 pm Sat 1st February.
Eastside Community Centre, Abbot’s Road Whitby YO22 4EA
The interaction of light with the physical and chemical components of the atmosphere. The structure of the atmosphere, clouds, weather phenomena , aurora.
Club members £1, Visitors £2
Rick Harwood
2 pm Sat 1st February.
Eastside Community Centre, Abbot’s Road Whitby YO22 4EA
The interaction of light with the physical and chemical components of the atmosphere. The structure of the atmosphere, clouds, weather phenomena , aurora.
Club members £1, Visitors £2
Saturday 18th January 2025
Lineside Ecology
Kerry Fieldhouse, Lineside Conservation Officer for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway is our speaker and describes her job. The NYMR is 18 miles long with a variety of habitats.
Eastside Community Hub
Abbott's Rd Whitby YO2244EA
Members £1
Visitors £2
Lineside Ecology
Kerry Fieldhouse, Lineside Conservation Officer for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway is our speaker and describes her job. The NYMR is 18 miles long with a variety of habitats.
Eastside Community Hub
Abbott's Rd Whitby YO2244EA
Members £1
Visitors £2
January 13, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Saturday 18th January 2025
Lineside Ecology
Kerry Fieldhouse, Lineside Conservation Officer for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway is our speaker and describes her job. The NYMR is 18 miles long with a variety of habitats.
Eastside Community Hub
Abbott's Rd Whitby YO2244EA
Members £1
Visitors £2
Lineside Ecology
Kerry Fieldhouse, Lineside Conservation Officer for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway is our speaker and describes her job. The NYMR is 18 miles long with a variety of habitats.
Eastside Community Hub
Abbott's Rd Whitby YO2244EA
Members £1
Visitors £2
Our first lecture of 2025.
Sat 11th January, 2025. 2pm
PondNet-National surveillance program for Great Crested Newt: 2015- present day.
Anne Carter of Freshwater Habitat Trust.
Eastside Community Hub,
Abbots Rd , YO22 4EA
(Museum closed) Limited street parking.
Members £1, Visitors £2
All welcome.
Sat 11th January, 2025. 2pm
PondNet-National surveillance program for Great Crested Newt: 2015- present day.
Anne Carter of Freshwater Habitat Trust.
Eastside Community Hub,
Abbots Rd , YO22 4EA
(Museum closed) Limited street parking.
Members £1, Visitors £2
All welcome.
January 3, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Our first lecture of 2025.
Sat 11th January, 2025. 2pm
PondNet-National surveillance program for Great Crested Newt: 2015- present day.
Anne Carter of Freshwater Habitat Trust.
Eastside Community Hub,
Abbots Rd , YO22 4EA
(Museum closed) Limited street parking.
Members £1, Visitors £2
All welcome.
Sat 11th January, 2025. 2pm
PondNet-National surveillance program for Great Crested Newt: 2015- present day.
Anne Carter of Freshwater Habitat Trust.
Eastside Community Hub,
Abbots Rd , YO22 4EA
(Museum closed) Limited street parking.
Members £1, Visitors £2
All welcome.
Aftercare for trees planted by #CinderTrack nr Whitby. Good survival rate; Wild Cherries already 5m tall. Thanks to all who helped.
December 9, 2024 at 9:52 PM
Aftercare for trees planted by #CinderTrack nr Whitby. Good survival rate; Wild Cherries already 5m tall. Thanks to all who helped.
Whitby Christmas Tree Festival now open 10 to 3 most days. Best display ever. Thanks to Marian for decorating our tree.
December 5, 2024 at 10:53 AM
Whitby Christmas Tree Festival now open 10 to 3 most days. Best display ever. Thanks to Marian for decorating our tree.
Springtails (Collembola) are the subject of our next talk on Sat 7th December at 2pm by Alan Ritson.
Venue Eastside Community centre .
Members £1 , others £2.
All welcome.
Venue Eastside Community centre .
Members £1 , others £2.
All welcome.
December 4, 2024 at 3:37 PM
Springtails (Collembola) are the subject of our next talk on Sat 7th December at 2pm by Alan Ritson.
Venue Eastside Community centre .
Members £1 , others £2.
All welcome.
Venue Eastside Community centre .
Members £1 , others £2.
All welcome.
December 4, 2024 at 3:22 PM