The Microscopy Section meets on the first and third Tuesday of every month at 7:30pm, offering hands-on microscopy sessions in Northamptonshire for anyone interested in exploring the hidden microscopic world.
We welcome everyone — from complete beginners who have never used a microscope to experienced amateur microscopists. You don’t need to own a microscope to take part. Just bring your curiosity — we provide equipment, materials, and friendly guidance to help you get started.
Our meetings are informal, welcoming, and strongly focused on practical, hands-on microscopy. Most sessions include the opportunity to use microscopes, prepare slides, and learn new techniques in a relaxed and supportive environment. If you’ve ever wanted to learn microscopy or improve your skills, these sessions are an ideal place to start.
Members regularly share their own discoveries and techniques, and there is always something fascinating to examine. Past sessions have explored:
– Microscopic life in pond water
– Algae, mosses, and plant structures
– Fern spores and grasses
– Fungi, lichens, and slime moulds
– We also run practical demonstrations on:
– Slide preparation and staining techniques
– Preparing wood and rock sections
– Examining sands from around the world
– Studying meteorites under the microscope
Members also have access to an extensive collection of several hundred prepared slides, as well as reference collections of myxomycetes (slime moulds) and lichens.
In addition, the Society hosts an annual microscopy exhibition in The Humfrey Rooms, attracting visitors and exhibitors from across the country — a highlight for anyone interested in microscopy, science, and imaging.
Whether you’re looking for a microscopy club near you, want to learn microscopy from scratch, or simply have an interest in science and nature, you’ll find a warm welcome here. IIt only takes one look down a microscope to discover an entirely new world — intricate, beautiful, and endlessly surprising. Come along and experience hands-on microscopy for yourself.
Dig into the past and connect with the people, places, and stories that shaped our landscape.
From distant galaxies to the night sky above Northamptonshire – discover the cosmos with us.
From wildflowers to woodlands, explore the rich plant life that surrounds us.
A place for broad interests, big questions, and a shared passion for the natural world.
Explore millions of years of Earth’s history beneath your feet.
Step into a hidden world revealed through the lens of a microscope.
From landscapes to wildlife, turn observation into lasting images.
From daily weather to global climate, discover the forces shaping our world.
Discover the animals that share our environment — from the familiar to the elusive.
