About the Society
The Edinburgh Natural History Society (ENHS) is a Scottish charity and not-for-profit organisation, funded mainly through member subscriptions and donations.
We aspire to help Edinburgh and the Lothians thrive as a place where nature is part of daily life and our shared identity. Edinburgh and the Lothians is a wonderful place to be a naturalist – with a rich variety of habitats from hills to coast, and across our city’s urban landscape.
As a natural history society, our goal is to learn about nature, support educators and learners, and help foster ecological literacy within our community. We are largely an offline society, favouring time outdoors — observing, recording, and enjoying the living world. Time spent in nature is not only fascinating, it also does wonders for mental and physical wellbeing.
Our society offers a welcoming space for anyone curious about the natural world. Our members span all ages, backgrounds, and levels of experience, united by a shared enthusiasm for exploring and understanding nature.
History
For more than 150 years the people of Edinburgh and the surrounding areas have explored nature, starting life as The Edinburgh Naturalists’ Field Club in 1869 before going through various name changes and mergers as the society continued to grow and evolve.
In 2015 the Society became a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) and in 2019 celebrated its 150th anniversary with an event at Newbattle Abbey College.
Interested in joining us?
If you would like to meet like-minded individuals and take part in our events then you can join now for only £15 a year for individuals, £20 a year for households and £5 for under 30s.
