In the early 1980s a club for bird enthusiasts was started as a night class in the Holderness villages. It was attended by a small but keen group who, when the run of classes came to an end, wanted to take things further.
In 1983 members were encouraged to start and think “outside the box”. That’s when things really started to move. Land was acquired at Kilnsea including the nesting ground for the Little Terns, which needed a warden at nesting time. A job taken on by Society members. Then land was offered at Hollym and the club had to raise a colossal amount of money. Again, those few members began fund raising with a vengeance. Those few active members were being stretched to the limit. They had land, responsibilities, and not enough time.
By various schemes, new people were encouraged to become members, and at one time the club boasted almost a hundred families. And, it must be said, that those members supported us as best they could either by attending the monthly meetings to hear the hired speakers or merely to meet with friends. Some volunteered for help on the reserves, some to take on the never-ending job of fund-raising. Many weekends and evenings of voluntary work, giving their spare time, their holidays to build the Society.
And it worked. After running as a club since 1983, with the aim of ‘Making a better place for wildlife’, the South Holderness Countryside Society became a registered charity on 30th May 1989. There are almost countless places in our area that have had the benefit of our help. Tiny corners of fields, offered by local farmers planted with trees and shrubs. Hedgerows improved. Existing small copses and woods, given a breath of fresh air, and of course Kilnsea wetlands, Hollym Carrs nature reserve, Patrington station, and a host of other small corners that welcomed the Society’s magic touch.
In 2009 the Society inherited a farmhouse and outbuildings with approximately two hectares of land in Hollym, East Yorkshire.
When we were offered Ivy House, some members thought that the place was in too much of a state of decay that it wouldn’t be worth our while to have it; but that few saw the future as a place to encourage children to respect Nature in all its forms. More fund raising. Hours were spent working almost every evening for about two years completing grant application forms and weekends of hard work on-site. The House had to be stripped, new electrics, insulation, windows, toilets a kitchen, all from scratch, and all according to the building inspector.
But finally, it was renovated from top to bottom, and the idea of an official Society office and space enough for children to be given encouragement in their love of Nature. The South Holderness Young Naturalists, (the Young Nats) was born, and became a success.
Following the recent years of hard work and support from grant organisations & business supporters, we have developed this into our headquarters. This space now houses our office, archive/library and meeting/exhibition space.
The grounds are now a mosaic of wildlife habitats.
The South Holderness Countryside Society as a registered Charity, are dedicated to educating members of the public on matters relating to natural history and conservation.
The Society has made a difference in our area. A difference to the benefit of Nature. That was, and still is, our aim. We proudly held our 40th Anniversary celebration in the Summer of 2023. Thank you all, past and present!
For a more detailed history of the development of some of our reserves check out their individual pages.