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The Dundee Naturalists’ Society has been celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, and a book on its history, ‘Gleaners of Nature’, will be the latest publication from Abertay Historical Society. Everyone is welcome to the book’s launch, on Tuesday 3 December at 6:30 pm in Dundee University’s Dalhousie Building.

Few would guess that today’s busy but small Naturalists’ Society was once one of the largest and most prestigious organisations in Dundee, and amongst the most significant and progressive scientific societies in Scotland.

It brought to Dundee ground-breaking ideas from some of the most notable scientists of Victorian times, and was influential in the early development of University College Dundee – now Dundee University. It had an early involvement in nature conservation, and during the 20th century, it had a crucial role in the designation of one of Britain’s first National Nature Reserves, at Tentsmuir in Fife.

Even more remarkably, it had earlier predecessors which stretch back more than 300 years to the first days of natural history studies, which are also described in the book. The Society’s museum collections now form an important part of Dundee’s McManus Museum collection, where an exhibition to mark the anniversary is running until March 2025.

The book is written by three long-standing members of the Naturalists’ Society, Jim Cook, Colin McLeod and Anne Reid. The launch will feature a short presentation by all three authors, followed by a chance to meet them, purchase a copy and get your book signed.


Information published by Leisure and Culture Dundee.