The Society publishes two annual journals – The Hertfordshire Naturalist and The Hertfordshire Bird Report. Together they are known as Transactions of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society and have been published continuously since 1875. We also publish county atlases and books on species groups such as wild flowers, birds, butterflies, moths, beetles, dragonflies, mammals, amphibians and reptiles and on geology and landscape. Those currently on sale are shown below.
One or both our journals are sent free of charge to HNHS/Herts Bird Club members depending on their chosen subscription. We are able to sell surplus copies to non-members for £11 each, including p&p.
For information about contributing to our journals, please contact their respective editors.
The latest issues are shown below.
Past issues of the HNHS Transactions, dating back to 1875, can be viewed in our searchable, online archive.
Information for contributors
The Hertfordshire Naturalist's editorial board welcomes papers whether based on detailed surveys, experiments, observational studies or historical reviews. Further information on how to contribute can be downloaded here.
HNHS Transactions
The Hertfordshire Naturalist 2024 The Hertfordshire Naturalist 2024 was published and circulated to HNHS members in December 2024 (Transactions of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society, Vol. 56 (2) pp. 85-152 Contents – Editorial (Stuart Warrington) HNHS Management Committee report for the year April 2023 to March 2024 Hertfordshire recorders Recorders' reports: Spiders (David Carr), Water Bugs (Stuart Warrington), Water Beetles (Stuart Warrington), Orthoptera (Ian Carle), Higher plants (Astrid Biddle, Ian Denholm and Alla Mashanova) |
The Hertfordshire Bird Report, 2023 The Hertfordshire Bird Report 2023 was published and circulated to HNHS / Herts Bird Club members in November 2024. Transactions of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society, Vol 56 (1) pp. 1-84. The report is sent free of charge to subscribing members. Copies can also be purchased, price £11 (inc. p&p). Contents – Review of the Year (Clifford Smout) Systematic List Canada Goose to Egyptian Goose (Vicky Buckel) |
HNHS Books
Beetles of Hertfordshire
This ground breaking account of all 2,483 species of beetle so far recorded in Hertfordshire was published by the HNHS in July 2018.
Written by former County Recorder, the late Trevor James, it is beautifully illustrated with colour photographs and provides detailed information on the occurrence of every species, as well as their habitat needs and conservation status.
It is the first book to cover all the beetles reliably recorded in a UK county in such a comprehensive way, making it a landmark for future studies.
"This is the first book to cover all the beetles reliably recorded in a UK county in such a comprehensive way – it is a remarkable achievement and a landmark for future studies." Paul T. Harding, British Journal of Entomology and Natural History, 31, 2018.
"...a heroic achievement...this is an impressive book. It sets a new standard for county beetle faunas and will be a hard act to follow. I can unreservedly recommend it for anyone with an interest in British beetles." A.G. Duff, The Coleopterist.
Published in hardback in the same, attractive A4 format as our five existing wildlife atlases, the book's 496 pages include 750 distribution maps for the more widely-recorded beetle species. More than 600 colour photographs illustrate a group of insects whose intricacy and beauty are too easily overlooked.
The introductory offer for Beetles of Hertfordshire has now expired, but our website price of £45 (plus £10 p&p) is still £19 lower than the recommended retail price. Buyers who wish to save on the charge for mailing such a large book may arrange to collect their copy from the HNHS Secretary in St Albans (by prior appointment). Prices for mailing to overseas addresses are available on request (if ordering from an EU country please note that customs duty may now be charged).
Butterflies of Hertfordshire and Middlesex
Our widely-acclaimed book Butterflies of Hertfordshire and Middlesex was published in November 2016. Copiously illustrated with colour photographs taken in the two counties, it provides the first in-depth account of butterflies found in our area for almost 30 years.
The book is published in the same A4, hardback format as Birds of Hertfordshire and other popular HNHS atlases. It includes present-day and historic distribution maps for all 34 resident and migrant species recorded in recent years, together with an analysis of trend data. Its 272 pages also provide an expert evaluation of changing rural and urban landscapes and their impact on butterfly populations since the 1980s. Descriptions of more than 50 publicly accessible 'top spots' for butterflies are accompanied by maps and other information on visiting them.
If you buy Butterflies of Hertfordshire and Middlesex here you can choose to have the book dellivered by post for £28 or collect it (by prior appointment) from HNHS at 250 Sandridge Road, St Albans, AL1 4AL for £24.
Prices for mailing to overseas addresses are available on request. Payment can be made using your debit or credit card through our secure PayPal account. Orders will be acknowledged by e-mail. Alternatively send a cheque for £28 (or £24 if collecting the book), payable to 'Hertfordshire Natural History Society' together with your name, address, and telephone number to: Hertfordshire Natural History Society, c/o 250 Sandridge Road, St Albans, AL1 4AL. Add your email address if you wish for an immediate acknowledgement of your order.
If you are ordering from overseas and we have contacted you about an additional charge for mailing your book, please pay the amount to us as a donation, using this PayPal button:
Birds of Hertfordshire
Birds of Hertfordshire, describes all the species of birds ever recorded in the County, from our common garden birds though to the rarest. It is a full county avifauna and atlas including comprehensive information on where and when to see the birds and how their numbers and distribution have changed over the years.
Published for Herts Bird Club by Hertfordshire Natural History Society in February 2015. Written by local experts with all the photographs taken in Hertfordshire, the book is A4 format, hardback and in full colour throughout.
You can buy this book direct from Hertfordshire Natural History Society with your credit or debit card using the PayPal link below. You can choose to have the book delivered by post for £28 or collect it by prior appointment).from HNHS at 250 Sandridge Road, St Albans, AL1 4AL for £24.
Data protection and privacy: in accord with its Privacy Policy, the HNHS will only use the personal data provided by customers for the purpose of fulfilling their orders.
Hertfordshire Geology and Landscape
A major work on Hertfordshire's earth heritage and its fundamental influence on geodiversity and biodiversity.
Flora of Hertfordshire
OUT OF PRINT
A must for everyone who enjoys the Hertfordshire countryside and finding wild flowers. Includes over 2000 species of vascular plants, sub-species and hybrids recorded in the county during the Hertfordshire Flora Survey 1987-2005, with distribution maps and comparisons with earlier surveys.
The foreword is by the well-known natural history author and plant expert, Richard Mabey.
Introductory sections describe the history of botanical recording, Hertfordshire's physical make-up - geology, soils, climate and hydrology, the history of our natural landscape; our wild plant habitats; their ecology and changing flora and a brief discussion of alien plants in Hertfordshire.
The Moths of Hertfordshire
OUT OF PRINT
For routinely updated information about the status and distribution of moths in Herts., visit the Hertfordshire and Middlesex Moth Group's website
Colin Plant's definitive book - The history, status, distribution and phenology of the micro- and macro-Lepidoptera of a south-eastern English county
Published by Hertfordshire Natural History Society in July 2008.
544 pages, with many colour photos, distribution maps and flight charts
Hardback, A4 size, 295 x 210mm, spine 36mm, weight 2480g,
The book is the result of ten years of survey work by volunteers, led by the Herts Moth Group and compiled and edited by Colin Plant. You can buy this book direct from Hertfordshire Natural History Society with your credit or debit card using the PayPal link below. You can choose to have the book delivered by post for £25 or collect it (by prior appointment) from HNHS at 250 Sandridge Road, St Albans, AL1 4AL for £15.
Recent News
'Discovering wild things' – anniversary lecture explored 150 years of HNHS history
Hertfordshire Natural History Society began 150 years ago, with Charles Darwin among its honorary members. But could its future take wildlife recording into an era more reminiscent of TV's science-fictional 'Star Trek'?
The question was posed by HNHS Secretary David Utting when he gave a lecture at St Albans Museum on 14 May to mark the Society's special anniversary.
School holidays: it's time for kids to go 'Wild about Hertfordshire'
St Albans Museum + Galleries and the HNHS have got together to arrange a great programme of Easter holiday activities to coincide with our 150th anniversary Wild about Hertfordshire exhibition.
Wild About Hertfordshire – opening of the HNHS 150th anniversary exhibition!
'Wild About Hertfordshire' – our family-friendly exhibition marking the 150th anniversary of Hertfordshire Natural History Society – opened to the public on Friday 21 March.
Running until Sunday 6 July at St Albans Museum it celebrates our county's wonderful wildlife which the Society's volunteers have been recording since 1875.
Around 120 guests enjoyed the opening night preview, including the Mayor and Mayoress of St Albans, Jamie and Liz Day.