The Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club have been published annually since 1852 though not always in the year that is written on the volume i.e. they were often late, sometimes several years late. They contain a record of the Club’s activities and its membership, but also an unparalleled resource for the study of Herefordshire.

The early volumes are particularly strong on natural history and mycology, but latterly there has been a more even balance between the different disciplines which interest the Club: natural history, geology, history and archaeology. The illustrations form a valuable archive of many features which have now disappeared, particularly the series on veteran trees.

All Herefordshire libraries and many other research libraries hold a set of the Transactions. The older volumes can be recognised by the dark green and gold bindings, but now the standard issue is published in pale green soft covers. If you require a copy of an article, it can be requested via the inter-library loan service.

The next Transactions to be published in 2006 will be for the year 2003.

About the Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club

The Woolhope Club was founded late in 1851, for ‘the practical study, in all its branches, of the natural history of Herefordshire and the districts immediately adjacent’. The early meetings of the Club reflect this interest in the natural world, and the Transactions have many beautiful illustrations of fungi. Other subjects for study included geology, meteorology, history and archaeology.

Field meetings were (and still are) held during the summer months, initially by carriage, later by railway and now by coach. The tradition of lectures during the winter months also continues, although they are now held in the Shire Hall rather than in the Woolhope Room in Hereford City Library.

The Club has three subsidiary sections which members can join: Geology, Natural History and Archaeological Research. These sections have additional programmes of field meetings and can be joined for a small additional annual fee.

If you would like to join the Club please return to the home page.