Do you want to have a say in funding nature projects for young people nationally? Our Local Nature Grant scheme is recruiting a Youth Panel of young people aged 16-18, who will help award funding for nature-based projects! Apply before 20 September at 11:45pm: buff.ly/YQ7Vg16

The Mathers Foundation has been championing orchid conservation for nearly a decade. On 25 November its founders, David and Gill Mathers, join our symposium ‘Orchidaceae | Taxonomy, Diversification, and Biogeography’ to share their work. Join us online or in-person - register at buff.ly/dMhsq0k

And also these grand snowy owls sketched by John Gould, lithographed and painted by Edward Lear. From The Birds of Europe (published between 1832 and 1837). #OwlDay

Owl Day or is it best scowl day? We especially love this illustration because it has owls but also so much more! From Alexander Wilson’s American Ornithology, titled “Great Horned Owl, Barn Owl, Meadow Mouse, Red Bat, Small-headed Flycatcher, Hawk Owl”. And how cute is that bat?!

Just one more month to go! Catch our exhibition that unpacks the origins of Carl Linnaeus' classification of human beings. In 1735, Linnaeus published the 1st ed of "Systema naturae", which had fundamental consequences in the emergence of the concept of race.

It’s the 45th anniversary of #Raiders of the Lost Ark (UK) & we’re celebrating its non-human characters: the capuchin monkey and its tragic end (“bad dates”), plus Indy’s phobia, a boa constrictor. From Shaw’s Naturalist’s Miscellany (1789) & Geoffroy Saint Hilaire’s Hist Nat Mammiferes (1833).

Paws out, claws out! A leaping tiger to break your mid-week monotony? Image of a tiger from Carl Vogt and Friedrich Specht's 'The Natural History of Animals (Class Mammalia)', and the book’s exquisite cover for #InternationalTigerDay.

Fancy a shower with an octopus? Or a gentle beluga to hug to sleep? You can now have brilliant, historic images of plants, animals and landscapes from our Collections as wall art, home decor items (cushion covers, shower curtains), puzzles or tote bags! Browse the possibilities 👉 bit.ly/4fYoR4n

How will the Orchid Tree of Life advance our understanding of this charismatic group? On 25 November we’re excited to hear from @botjlinnsoc.bsky.social Guest Editor and symposium convenor Oscar A. Pérez-Escobar, leader of this global initiative. Get online or in-person tickets buff.ly/woUYTxz

Image 2: (March), 'Hirame' and 'Mebaru' (flounder, mebaru and cherry blossom): ‘The taste of fish and the sweet smell of blossoms; both reach their peak in the spring.’ The series consists of two sets of ten woodblock colour prints of fishes, published around 1832 and 1840.

Image 1: (Summer), Hiroshige depicted a crab and a mackerel, accompanied by morning glory: 'The fish market comes to life at dawn like a great morning glory opening up.'

To the sea, everyone, to the sea! As an ode to holidays, sandy beaches and sunsets, images from John Stackhouse’s Nereis Britannica (1795), a magnificent illustrated compendium of algae native to the British seashore. You can read more and find other works by Stackhouse, using our library catalogue.

Ever wanted to try nature journalling? Join us and naturalist Zabby Allen for a guided walk in St James’ Park, followed by a creative workshop at the Linnean Society where you’ll make your own nature zine. Book your place here: buff.ly/k3THE5D

We have a copy of the book in our Collections albeit an uncoloured one. Note: The names of the plant in various scripts on the right hand top corner. #mangoday

What are ‘clock’ flowers? Can we use flowers to tell the time? Join us in SE London for a guided walk and reflective, creative activity exploring blooms with daily movements on Aug 1, 10 am. Book here: bit.ly/4gyhS33

The handwriting is thought to be by Robert Benson Bowman (1808-1882), who was a bookseller and an amateur botanist. If you zoom into each image, you can read the species names - a fantastic overlay of geology and taxonomy. #maps #naturalhistory #mapreading #uniquemaps

The map has been drawn in ink with watercolours to illustrate the 20 different formations. The map includes minutely detailed annotations showing plant localities over watercolour indications of geological formations. #maps

For National Map Reading Week, we present this unique geological map of Northumberland-Durham. What makes this unique are the species annotations made by the owner. The first image is especially striking with the species names radiating out in a sun-like formation.

Excited to receive Inherent Vice No. 3: Exploring Queerness in Natural History, a zine in collaboration with us! From reflections on queerness during conservation work on hyenas and porpoises to creating ecology/queerness festivals, read about nature's intersection with queerness. buff.ly/47eZgmH

In 1965, 13 great auk eggs disappeared. Tim Birkhead set out to find those eggs and reconstruct the great auk’s lifestyle. Did he find the eggs? Find out at our lecture on July 9 at the Linnean Society. Bonus: Tim's bird paintings! Book below. buff.ly/lWD0mz1

Hall also published 2 books "Nature Rambles in London" in 1908 and "Common British Animals" in 1913. (see image for a quote). A natural science communicator, she founded the Nature Study Museum in 1904 to give city folks the opportunity to encounter live animals, taxidermy and insects.

Happy 125th to @hornimanmuseum.bsky.social & the story of our link through Kate Hall, the 1st female museum curator in England. Hall, was one of the first female Linnean fellows (1905), & curator of the Whitechapel Museum. She was also one of the speakers in the Horniman Museum's series of lectures.

Call for Writers! 📣 Are you a student or early career researcher? Science communicator? Know someone who is? We're looking for our next round of Guest Bloggers for our journal blog The Paper Trail! Check out our vacancies page to apply, and read some of our latest posts here: buff.ly/7JVQmSx 🧪 🌍

Speaking of bats, our ever popular bat walks are returning this Autumn! Every Tuesday at dusk between 18 August - 08 September. Check out our events pages to book you place: www.linnean.org/meetings-and... 🌍 🦇

Yes, it is sunny out there & these sunflowers sure would love it. Helianthus annuus from Johann Sebastian Müller's 20-part series 'Illustratio Systematis Sexualis Linnaei' which attempted to illustrate the Linnaean classification system and was one of the most successful books of the time.

Thanks to Rose Awareness Week for prompting us to post these gorgeous roses from Robert Thornton's 'Temple of Flora', Part III of 'New illustration of the sexual system of Linnaeus' (1799-1807). You can even buy a print for yourself or the rose lover in your life, here: bit.ly/4eDjeXw #roses

If you look closely at some of the pages, some have also been left incomplete. But who hasn't been dissatisfied with their own colouring once in a while?

Our set is a three-volume work (illustrations by Moses Harris) that belonged to Henry Seymer who coloured and annotated his volumes. So... sort of like colouring books really. Seymer also used specimens from his own collection as models for the colours. Read more about Seymer: bit.ly/3Sd8fwE

A colouring book (?) from the 18th C! These illustrations are from British entomologist Dru Drury's famous book "Illustrations of Natural History". This copy was donated to us by Vivian Seymer, possibly a descendant of naturalist Henry Seymer. The insects really seem to lift off the page. Cont...

Our warmest congratulations to Kabir Kaul FLS, who is recognised in today's Honours list for services to nature. Kabir said: “I remain incredibly grateful for the Society’s kindness and encouragement, and the wisdom of all the Fellows I've had the privilege to meet so far." buff.ly/fmWsoma