It's 150 years since a small group of enthusiasts started meeting weekly above an East End pub and founded the group that's the direct ancestor of today’s London Natural History Society (LNHS).

Founded in 1858, LNHS are part of a long and thriving tradition of amateur natural history societies in the UK. Such societies continue to make an important contribution to science and conservation.
To celebrate, the LNHS is running three 150th anniversary events open to everyone.

On the morning of 8th June they will explore the natural history of St. James’s Park, sharing the early morning hush with the pelicans.

On the afternoon of 15th June they'll be discovering some of the wildlife inside the old city boundaries, wandering down historic alleyways past charming ‘secret’ gardens, taking in colonies of a local rarity - London Rocket – and a local success story, the cockney sparrow, which can be found roosting in the Tower of London.

On the evening of 17th June they'll revisit the stomping grounds of the Haggerstone Entomological Society in east London, the predecessor of the LNHS, and discover some of the society’s rich and varied history.

Distinguished natural history experts in the Society will lead each of these events. To find out more or register your interest in attending one of these walks, email 150thanniversarywalks@lnhs.org.uk or call 0208 9946321.

The summer issue of London Wildlife Trust's members' magazine Wild London will celebrate the work of the LNHS and look more widely at why monitoring work is so important to the wildife in the capital.  Join the Trust today and make sure you get a copy.