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British Ecological Society

Logo: British Ecological Society, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons4

UK learned society in the field of ecology

The British Ecological Society is a learned society in the field of ecology that was founded in 1913. It is the oldest ecological society in the world. The Society's original objective was "to promote and foster the study of Ecology in its widest sense" and this remains the central theme guiding its activities today.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1913Founded1
  • Industryhigher education1
  • HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom1
  • Websitewww.britishecologicalsociety.org
  • Legal formPrivate Limited by Guarantee3
  • LEI213800JU49ZQH9FQJJ823
  • StatusActive3
  • LEI statusIssued and current3
  • Registered address42 WHARF ROAD, N1 7GS London, United Kingdom3
  • Registered withCharity Commission for England and Wales, 2812133

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British Ecological Society
Photo: Mx. Granger, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons6

The British Ecological Society is a learned society in the field of ecology that was founded in 1913. It is the oldest ecological society in the world. The Society's original objective was "to promote and foster the study of Ecology in its widest sense" and this remains the central theme guiding its activities today. The Society had, circa 2024 around 7,000 members of which 14% are students. Of its members in 2013, 42% were outside the United Kingdom, in a total of 92 countries. The head office is located in London.2

The story

The Society evolved out of the British Vegetation Committee, which was founded in 1904 to promote the survey and study of vegetation in the British Isles. This initiative was in turn the outcome of what many historians perceive to have been the emergence of modern ecology in the 1890s. The British Ecological Society's inaugural meeting was held at University College London on 12 April 1913 and was attended by 47 members. Sir Arthur Tansley became the first President and the first issue of Journal of Ecology was printed in time for the meeting.

The Society faced several setbacks and was largely impacted by the events of World War I, as it formed the year prior to its beginning.

In its early days the society shared the London offices of The Linnean Society. Today it is member of the umbrella organisation European Ecological Federation (EEF).

From Wikipedia’s article on British Ecological Society, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5

Leadership

Who has led British Ecological Society, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Timeline

  1. 1913Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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