The Sorby Natural History Society, Sheffield

Covering a full range of natural history interests in Sheffield and the surrounding area, providing for both interested beginners and specialists.

The Sorby Natural History Society is a registered charity (number 518234), formed in 1918 in honour of Henry Clifton Sorby (1826-1908). We are a forum for naturalists of all ages and abilities to meet, enjoy natural history, collect, store and share information, explore the Sorby Study Area and promote conservation of wildlife and geology. We have groups that organise events, such as lectures, field meetings, surveys and workshops, we produce several publications including a monthly newsletter and an annual Sorby Record and currently hold 2.2 million records. Read more about us…

Meetings cancelled

Due to the forecast of extreme heat, the Sorby Botanical Group has cancelled both of the meetings scheduled for 24 June 2026…

read more

Health and Safety

Sorby’s board of trustees has revised the society’s Health & Safety policy. All members are asked to take a few minutes to read the document…

read more

Henry Clifton Sorby goes on a Field Meeting 1886

While undertaking research for the ‘Rotherham State of Nature Report’, I was trawling through ’The Naturalist' the journal of the Yorkshire Naturalist Union, I came across a report of a field meeting to Anston Stone Woods, Thursday 13 April 1886. It was a joint...

read more