After 109 years since its formation the Cross Hills Naturalists’ Society closes its doors for the last time next Saturday, August 31. An aging and declining membership, coupled with the rapid advancement of digital communication and modern media, has finally led the society to accept the inevitable. Tom Clinton, media officer for the “Nats”, gives us a brief glimpse into the history of a truly historic local society

In 1904 “17 gentlemen from Cross Hills” decided to form a group in order to learn and understand more about the natural world and encourage others to join them.

Regular meetings and excursions into the surrounding countryside were organised. This provided opportunities for working people to step out of their world of work in factories or mills and into the natural world that surrounded them.

This period reflected the earlier introduction in 1870, by the Bradford MP William E Forster, of compulsory education for children up to ten years old and, later, the Secondary Education Act. So, people could now widen their knowledge of the natural world by going to look and experiencing it for themselves as well as reading or being taught about it.

The outings into the country and meetings were always popular and well attended by members. The society’s records show details of train timetables that were well thumbed and used in order to extend the members’ activities further afield than Craven.

The society soon experienced the early days of sex equality. In 1907 a Miss Edith Aldis caused an earthquake in the all-male society by writing to seek membership. This “bomb shell” was defused by a meeting of members who decided that “the only two members likely to be endangered by the admission of women were the only two bachelor members”. Records show that “either in the spirit of hope or resignation” these two men decided that women could become members of the society.

The society has had 15 presidents in its 109 year history but only two women were elected to this important role: Mrs J Brigg (1946-1950) and its current and final post holder, Jean Kendrew (1994-2013).

Several members of the society have received national recognition for their work in the field of natural history. Space does not allow for all to be mentioned here and the writer apologises for any offence unwittingly caused by omissions. A few examples are: Walter Feather – a founder member and an eminent entomologist who has several moths named after him ; John Holmes – the society’s secretary for its first 23 years and whose geological collection is now in Cliffe Castle.

Edward Greenwood – joined the society in 1920 and was a member for 50 years. His carefully handwritten records of his bird sightings are a monument to his ornithological skills and his fastidious record keeping. The slides he took over a long period are now lodged with the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology). All this before computers and data bases had been invented. An annual lecture was held in his memory.

Duncan Clough – a long-serving member of the society, who left a legacy to it and his name has been remembered with an annual lecture.

Frank Trenouth – the longest serving president, from 1950-1975. He introduced the then revolutionary 35mm colour slides which enhanced the society’s visual presentations and many of the society’s procedures have continued ever since.

The society became one of the few in the region to have its own “Coat of Arms”. A badge was designed for the society in 1929 by Mr F Williams of the Herald’s College in London following a lecture he had given to the society in November of that year.

The society had to survive two world wars in its first 50 years in the first half of the 20th century and this curtailed much of its activities. However, on September 18, 1940, in the president’s home at West Bank, Main Street, Cross Hills, the committee agreed its constitution. So, after 36 years, Cross Hills Naturalists’ Society became a “proper” society. The minutes of this historic meeting show that the first aim of the society was: “To foster a love and appreciation of nature and to bring local naturalists and nature lovers into helpful communication with one another”.

The society’s microscope group had also flourished under the long term leadership, skills and knowledge of Douglas Richardson. The group produced many fascinating microscopic images of plants and insects..

The society’s fortnightly Saturday evening winter programme of speakers have taken its members to many parts of the region, the UK and many places in the world. One lecture focused on the depths of the Antarctic revealing strange and wonderful sea life, many of them never seen by human beings before.

The society has played a key role in physically restoring the remaining structural evidence of the lead mining industry once prevalent in the area. It was deeply involved on a wide range of restoration projects including the Cononley Lead Mines; Bolton Gill Winding shaft (Hebden Gill), Grassington Chimney, Langscar Smelt Mill Chimney in Malham, and Lunds Tower (Sutton Pinnacle). The renowned Dr Arthur Raistrick played a key role in many of these activities and was instrumental in their success. The society really has left its physical mark on the landscape of Craven forever.

In 2004, as part of the society’s centenary celebration, it published a detailed report on its 100-year history. In it, one of the society’s earlier presidents (1975-1994), Michael Jackson, commented: “I believe that, without wishing to denigrate that television and modern media gives us much to think about, the true depth of knowledge is to be found, as far as possible, by going out into the field to experience nature at first hand”. This appears to have been a prophetic hint about the society’s future nine years later.

The society went online in 2009 and launched its own website which published details and reports of its winter and summer programmes as well as reports and images from the microscope group.

As the membership declined and recruitment of younger blood all but dried up, it became clear that the society could not sustain sufficient interest from the community.

This dilemma grew as the natural world was beamed into people’s lives by television, internet and now “smart” phones. Bad weather, particularly during the winter months, made it difficult for many members to attend the fortnightly meetings. Membership fell from 110 in 2000 to 58 in 2012. This unavoidable truth was confronted by a special meeting of members on February 9, 2013, when a vote was taken as to whether the society should continue or close after more than a century of activity. It was a painful and difficult meeting, chaired by the president, Jean Kendrew, but the vote was eventually taken to close the society.

The society’s final field trip took place on Wednesday, July 17, with a botanical walk on Magnesian limestone at Burton Leonard and today (Thursday) a farewell afternoon tea party is due to be held in St. Peter’s Church Hall, Cross Hills, its final “home” for many years.

And next Saturday, August 31, the Cross Hills Naturalists Society ceases to exist after 109 years of providing opportunities for the community to explore, and learn from, the natural world around them. The original 17 gentlemen from Cross Hills would no doubt have been both proud and, perhaps, a little sad.