It is unlikely that gatherings of any significant size will be able to take place safely this summer, so we have decided to cancel the Annual Fund-raising Picnic for 2021.

The Annual subscription for Friends has remained at £5.00 for many years. As we have been obliged to cancel the last two annual fund-raising picnic events - our most significant source of donations - combined with an ambitious programme of work and extended educational outreach, it has been decided that now is the time to revise the subscription costs. Accordingly this year's subscriptions (2021/2) are now:

• Annual Membership: £10.00
• Life Membership: £100.00, with a discount for Two members at the same address : £150.00
• Life Membership for those 70 years and above: £50.00 with a discount for Two members at the same address : £75.00

The Augmented Reality Sandbox which we use in exhibitions, events and school visists was used by the Royal Institution for one of the Chistmas Lectures broadcast on the BBC. They are now available on iPlayer and YouTube.
As a follow on to that activity, schools around the country were encouraged to 'talk' to the scientists and teams involved in setting up and supporting the lectures in a series of on-line 'chats' over four weeks - quite a challenge to keep up with them and encouraging to see the level of interest in, and awareness of the environment.