THE DUBLIN NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB

The Dublin Naturalists' Field Club, founded in 1886, is a charitable society dedicated to fostering a love of natural history across Dublin and the surrounding counties of Wicklow, Meath and Kildare. Through a lively programme of outdoor field meetings, indoor workshops and discussion evenings, the club offers both amateur and professional naturalists the chance to share knowledge, learn about local flora and fauna and contribute to the conservation of scarce and threatened species and sites of scientific interest.

Members benefit from a rich suite of publications, including the *Flora of Inner Dublin*, *Flora of County Dublin*, *Ireland's Butterflies* and specialist identification guides such as the *Guide to the Butterflies of Ireland* and the *Field Studies Council's Guide to Ladybirds*. Ongoing projects like the revision of Hart's *Flora of Howth* and the Dublin Ladybird Project provide opportunities for citizen-science contributions, with a dedicated records page for ladybird sightings.

As part of the Federation of Irish Field Clubs, the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club also collaborates with sister organisations, notably the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club, to host joint meetings throughout the island, reinforcing a vibrant network of natural history enthusiasts.