WRITING THE RURAL
![A black and white archive photo of sheep in a field being watched over by a shepherd leaning on a fence, for the seminar series](https://merl.reading.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2019/01/WhatsOn_featured_rural_seminars-770x365.jpg)
We welcome back our popular collaboration with the Department of English Literature for a third exciting series, Writing the Rural. This year’s talks are chaired jointly by Dr Paddy Bullard and by our current Research Fellow, writer Suzy Joinson. Their guests include the usual inspiring mix of writers and literary thinkers, as well as folk […]
BRITISH AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES: PAST, PRESENT & POST-BREXIT
![British agricultural landscape](https://merl.reading.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2018/01/WhatsOn_Featured_FOLAR-770x365.jpg)
How can our much loved, multi-functional, protected and neglected agricultural landscapes – conflict ridden, economically challenging and bureaucraticised – be sustained for the future? FOLAR’s 2018 symposium focuses on British agricultural landscapes since 1945, and considers the post-Brexit future. A day of challenging talks with Q and A sessions from a stellar range of knowledgeable […]
SEMINAR SERIES: RURAL RIDERS AND RADICALS
![Black and white image of a man riding a grey working horse in a field with haystack in the background](https://merl.reading.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2017/12/WhatsOn_Featured_ruralradicals-770x365.jpg)
A series of lunchtime talks organised by the Department of English Literature and the Museum of English Rural Life, in celebration of their ongoing collaborations. Events in the series feature (alternately) writers with a national profile, and academic authors showcasing new and exciting research. 18 January – Alexandra Harris – The marsh and the visitor […]
SPECULATIVE OPTIMISM
![A poster showing the details of the exhibition Speculative Optimism, with an archive corridor in the background.](https://merl.reading.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2017/10/WhatsOn_Detail_Deidre-1-770x365.jpg)
Deirdre O’Mahony’s residency at the MERL began with the proposition, is carbon-neutral beef possible? Research at the University of Reading is currently testing the effect of different kinds of forage such as Sainfoin, on animal and soil health and on levels of methane produced by livestock. Deirdre spent the residency investigating historical references to forages […]
OBJECTS OF SURVIVAL
![](https://merl.reading.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2017/09/WhatsOn_Detail_Healy_boots-770x365.jpg)
The MERL Autumn Speaker Series This series of lunchtime talks is part of Showing, Doing, Telling, a season of events exploring craft and making at The MERL. Specialists in craft and the arts examine different ways of responding to rural life, exploring how best to nurture old skills, contemporary creative responses and traditional practice. For […]
ENGLISH SCYTHES: BACK AT THE CUTTING EDGE?
![](https://merl.reading.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2017/09/WhatsOn_Detail_scythes-770x365.jpg)
The MERL Autumn Speaker Series This series of lunchtime talks is part of Showing, Doing, Telling, a season of events exploring craft and making at The MERL. Specialists in craft and the arts examine different ways of responding to rural life, exploring how best to nurture old skills, contemporary creative responses and traditional practice. For […]
HERITAGE CRAFTS AT RISK
![](https://merl.reading.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2017/09/WhatsOn_Detail_basket-770x365.jpg)
The MERL Autumn Speaker Series This series of lunchtime talks is part of ‘Showing, Doing, Telling’, a season of events exploring craft and making at The MERL. Specialists in craft and the arts examine different ways of responding to rural life, exploring how best to nurture old skills, contemporary creative responses and traditional practice. For […]
THE POETICS OF AGRICULTURE
![](https://merl.reading.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2017/09/WhatsOn_Detail_Thacker.jpg)
The MERL Autumn Speaker Series This series of lunchtime talks is part of Showing, Doing, Telling, a season of events exploring craft and making at The MERL. Specialists in craft and the arts examine different ways of responding to rural life, exploring how best to nurture old skills, contemporary creative responses and traditional practice. For […]
NEW C21 ARCHITECTURAL RESPONSES TO RURAL LIFE
![](https://merl.reading.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2017/09/WhatsOn_Detail_Piers-770x365.jpeg)
The MERL Autumn Speaker Series This series of lunchtime talks is part of ‘Showing, Doing, Telling’, a season of events exploring craft and making at The MERL. Specialists in craft and the arts examine different ways of responding to rural life, exploring how best to nurture old skills, contemporary creative responses and traditional practice. For […]
SHOWING, DOING, TELLING: CRAFT AND MAKING
![Making, doing, telling: a season of events exploring making and craft at the MERL](https://merl.reading.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2017/09/WhatsOn_Featured_making-770x365.jpg)
THE MERL AUTUMN SPEAKER SERIES Weekday lunchtimes, 10 October to 14 November 12.00 – 1.00pm Free, booking recommended. Specialists in craft and the arts examine different ways of responding to rural life, exploring how best to nurture old skills, contemporary creative responses and traditional practice. 10 October – Piers Taylor – New C21 architectural responses […]