British Arachnological Society

The British Arachnological Society (BAS) is the UK’s first body devoted exclusively to the study of arachnids. The primary objectives of the Society are to encourage interest in arachnology in people of all ages and to generate, promote and disseminate arachnological knowledge and understanding by all suitable means. In particular, it works to foster co-operation between amateur and professional arachnologists.

Actively involved in scientific aspects of arachnid conservation, it provides impartial information and expert advice on the ecology and biology of British arachnids to policy and decision makers in Government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), as well as to conservation practitioners, private interests and the public. The Society oversees national recording schemes for spiders, harvestmen and pseudoscorpions.

Founded in 1958, it is one of the oldest societies specializing in this animal group, publishing a journal (Arachnology) and a Newsletter three times a year. Membership is both British and international. The BAS is a registered charity in England and Wales (Charity No. 260346) and in Scotland (Charity No. SC044090)

The society originated in the 1950s, when it was suggested to the British arachnologists G. H. (Ted) Locket and A. F. (Frank) Millidge that they should run a spider identification course. Courses were run at Flatford Mill in Suffolk in 1956 by Locket, in 1957 by David Blest and 1958 again by Locket. 1958 was also an important year for British arachnology with the publication of the celebrated The World of Spiders by W. S. Bristowe.

During the 1958 spider course, discussions led to the formation of the Flatford Mill Spider Group — the direct forerunner of the BAS — with Ted Locket as Chairman and David Mackie as its Secretary and Treasurer. Mackie also edited a Bulletin, which was first produced in 1959. The group's aim was to exchange information between workers, and initial membership comprised ten people with subscriptions in 1959 of five shillings (25p). Further field courses were held in subsequent years at Flatford and at Malham in Yorkshire, led by arachnologists such as Doug Clark, John Cooke, Eric Duffey and Ted Locket.

The name 'Flatford Mill Spider Group' was eventually considered too parochial and at the 1963 meeting in Preston Montford the name of the association was changed, and from 1964 it became the British Spider Study Group. Membership at this stage was 35 and again Ted Locket was the Chairman and David Mackie the Secretary and Treasurer. The reprint library was also founded at about this time and regular field courses training up a new generation of arachnologists continued. The Bulletin of the British Spider Study Group continued to grow in size and importance.

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