The IHBC marks our 25th anniversary across this subscription year, from April 2022 to March 2023, so looking back – and forward – we’re using NewsBlog posts to celebrate some of the free ‘jewels’ helping members and colleagues deliver our charitable objects, with this post featuring our searchable archive for Context, including from its days as the Newsletter of the ACO.
… a remarkable – and maybe even unequalled – historical resource…
IHBC Director Seán O’Reilly said: ‘Context originated as the ‘Newsletter of the Association of Conservation Officers’, under the Cornerstone banner, in February 1983. That issue, edited by John Fidler, encapsulated that most historic of moments with its splendid cartoon.’
…‘The Institute of Fun’…
‘Context turned to colour in Spring 1989, and welcomed the launch of the IHBC as ‘The Institute of Fun’ in its first issue as the voice of the Institute with the 53rd issue, in June 1997!’
‘Covering both before and after the IHBC, the Context archive serves as a remarkable – and maybe even unequalled – historical resource for the evolution of conservation planning in the UK.’
‘Today the online archive continues to offers a no-less remarkable low-carbon, open access to that history. It is mostly – but, please remember, not entirely – searchable online now too, which makes quick research exercises across the more recent issues especially useful for busy practitioners and consultants… and NewsBlog authors!’
‘As such, it’s just another remarkable jewel – and service – to be usefully reminded of in our #IHBC25.’
See and search the Context archive
See Context issues from 1997, the year of the incorporation of the IHBC:
- Context 56 – December 1997
- Context 55 – September 1997
- Context 54 – June 1997, the first issue under the IHBC banner
- Context 53 – March 1997, the last issue representing the Association Of Conservation Officers, which includes an index to issues 1-53 by Authors and Subjects
See our 10th Anniversary Context and Centenary Issue
Reading Context helps IHBC members develop their skills across all of the IHBC’s Areas of Competence, and so is a critical baseline in addressing priorities in Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Access the online archive and see the issue online
See more IHBC background and guidance on IHBC CPD and on how you might use past, current and future issues of Context
