A leading geologist and a bird identification expert were honoured at the HNHS Autumn Meeting on Saturday 18 October as the Society continued celebrations marking its 150th anniversary.

Haydon Bailey, a national authority on chalk strata and fossils, received the Trevor James Award for an outstanding Hertfordshire natural historian. Haydon is Chair of Hertfordshire Geological Society which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Photo of Dr Bailey receiving his award from the High Sheriff, Nicholas Buxton (© David Utting)

The 1875 Award for an outstanding contribution to natural history in Hertfordshire went to Mike Ilett, a former Chair of Herts Bird Club who is Secretary to the county rare birds panel. Mike is also a co-author of Birds of Hertfordshire, published by the HNHS in 2015.

Mike Ilett with the High Sheriff, Nicholas Buxton (© Tim Hill)

Both winners received their award crystals from Nicholas Buxton, the High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, who was the Society's special guest at the meeting and gave a talk about work to improve biodiversity and conservation on the Easneye estate, near Ware, where he farms.

But he also had a surprise announcement, presenting his own High Sheriff's Certificate for valuable service to the community to Tim Hill. In addition being events organiser for the HNHS and Herts Bird Club for almost 30 years, Tim is Conservation Manager for the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust.

Tim Hill receiving his High Sheriff's Certificate (© David Utting)

The conference, which included the Society's 150th Annual General Meeting, also heard presentations from recorder Roy Woodward on progress with the current county-wide survey of dragonflies and damselflies and from Alex Waechter, manager of the Hertfordshire Environmental Records Centre, on the Mammals, Amphibians and Reptiles Atlas (MARA) survey that concluded in December 2024 after ten years and is now being written-up.

Committee member Hanna Grimsdale announced plans for a new initiative to engage recorders and other experienced HNHS members in mentoring young adult wildlife enthusiasts to help them develop their knowledge,  identification and field skills.

The meeting ended with a presentation by David Utting, the Society's Secretary, looking back at the Victorian founders of the HNHS and comparing their natural history interests, pursuits and methods with those of the present day and – potentially – the future.

We are, again, most grateful to Affinity Water for hosting the conference at their office in Hatfield. Alister Leggatt, Senior Asset Manager, opened the meeting with an assessment of water levels in Hertfordshire's underlying chalk aquifer following a prolonged summer drought - and the quantity of winter rainfall  needed to replenish them.

Videos of the main talks can be viewed by clicking on the links shown or visiting the HNHS YouTube site. An article by David Utting –  Then and now: 150 years of the Hertfordshire Natural History – on which he based his talk, appears in the special anniversary issue of the Hertfordshire Naturalist, published in November.  Further information about this year's HNHS award winners can be found in the Annual Awards section of this website.