Annual Report and Accounts 2025

The Linnean Society of London's 2025 annual report covers the world's oldest active biological society, founded in 1788 and named for Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus. The Society has 3,256 members globally and operates from Burlington House, London. In 2025 it relaunched its digital collections platform Linnean Online, exceeded school workshop targets, achieved record exhibition attendance, and welcomed HRH The Princess Royal as Patron. The Society advances natural history through publications, collections, education and grants.

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About

Membership organisation for natural history and biological sciences; safeguarding and promoting heritage collections (including Linnaean collections designated by Arts Council England); advancing scientific knowledge through four peer-reviewed journals; public engagement and educational outreach (school workshops, lectures, exhibitions, events); grant-making to support natural history research and local nature projects; advocacy for nature

Key Metrics

Key Metric 1 3,256 members in 2025, including 383 new members (164 new Fellows, 85 new Associates, 134 new Student Associates); members span continents, disciplines and fields of natural history

Key Metric 2 Naturalists' Notebooks exhibition achieved highest attendance to date in 2025; education team exceeded school workshop targets with strong 2026 bookings

Key Metric 3 Linnean Online digital collections platform relaunched on Preservica following migration, opening up access to heritage collections of Carl Linnaeus and other naturalists

Key Outcomes

HRH The Princess Royal accepted Patronage of the Linnean Society in early 2025; Green Careers Conference co-hosted with British Ecological Society welcomed around 70 attendees
New Linnean Medal categories established: one for excellence in research, one for protection of nature; new Fellowship Committee completed first full year strengthening scrutiny of applications
Former President Professor Anjali Goswami appointed Chief Scientific Advisor to Defra; Society celebrated 237-year history at New Burlington House following 999-year lease signed in 2024; FY2024 income £2.28m, expenditure £1.89m (most recent filed)