The club was formed as the first of a series of Field Clubs (followed by clubs in
Dublin (1886),
Cork (1892), and
Limerick (1892)) established in response to the increasing interest in natural sciences in the Victorian Society of Ireland. The first public meeting was held on the March 6, 1863 in the Museum Buildings, now the Ulster Museum. Tate wrote a draft Constitution. The first field trip organized by the Club occurred on 6 April 1863 when 88 members travelled to
Islandmagee to collect fossils. Since then members of the Club have visited many areas including the
Cavehill, the
Giant's Causeway,
Mount Stewart and
Strangford Lough to name but a few.
Books •
Systematic Lists Illustrative of the Flora, Fauna, Palaeontology and Archeology of the North of Ireland, 1870 •
Guide to Belfast and the adjacent counties, 1874 •
Catalogue of a Collection of Irish Antiquities, 1874 •
A Guide to Belfast and the Counties of Down & Antrim, 1902 •
A Preliminary Report on the Survey of the County Armagh Flora, 1965-1967, 1968 • ''Urban Flora of Belfast: A project of the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club.'' 1997, by Stan Beesley, John Wilde.
Periodicals • ''Annual Report and Proceedings of the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club'' • ''
The Irish Naturalists' Journal'' (contributor/coauthor)
Notable members •
John Kaye Charlesworth •
Richard Hayward •
Mary Johnstone Lynn •
Margaret Williamson Rea •
Margarita Dawson Stelfox ==References==