Discovering the Landscape: Treasures Exhibition at the University Library
We’re delighted that this exhibition can now be seen at the University Library: Discovering the Landscape: treasures from the collections of the Landscape Institute Where? University Library Foyer, Whiteknights campus When? April – June 2016 (during opening hours) What? This display will showcase a selection of important archive materials and books from the Landscape Institute collections, […]
Chalk or Cheese? Winner announced!
The votes are in, the people have spoken and the wall hanging chosen for display in the new Museum of English Rural Life is…Kent! Over the past month we asked you to vote between our Kent and Cheshire wall hangings, two of a series of seven made by the artist Michael O’Connell for the 1951 Festival […]
Interview with Art Collections Officer, Part 1
Volunteer, Whitney continues her series of interviews with members of staff with a chat with Jacqueline Winston-Silk, Art Collections Officer, about her role. Can you give me a little background of the work you do here at MERL? I am based at the Museum and employed by the University of Reading. I manage the University’s Art Collections […]
Wellcome news! MERL has rural life down to a science
Our new Science Engagement Officer, Robyn Hopcroft, provides an update on the Wellcome Trust funded project: ‘Our Country Lives: Nutrition, Health and Rural England’. What is the relationship between rural life and science? In my role at MERL I’ll be investigating this question and finding new ways to work together with our visitors to explore […]
Countryside Forum: gathering stories
In her latest Activity Plan update, Phillippa Heath (Audience Development Project Manager), describes the fascinating conversations the team have been having (and are set to have) with farmers and individuals with different connections to the countryside, across the UK. One of our ambitions for the Museum of English Rural Life’s redevelopment is to draw out […]
Community projects: how to get involved
An update on some of the exciting projects and plans we’re working as part of our redevelopment project – and details of how you can get involved, by Phillippa Heath, Audience Development Manager. In addition to the Museum’s physical redevelopment we have also been developing our work with our diverse audiences. As well as our existing visitors, we are […]
Reading Readers – Alex Bowmer
For this month’s Reading Readers blog, PhD student Alex Bowmer gives us an insight into how the MERL archives and object collections are playing a part into his research of livestock health. As a collaborative doctoral awarded PhD candidate, I split my time between King’s College London and here at The Museum of English Rural Life. […]
Discovering the Landscape: World Landscape Architecture Month (#WLAM2016)
April is World Landscape Architecture Month (#WLAM2016): an international celebration of landscape architecture. Read on to find out more about #WLAM2016 and how you can get involved. Established by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the purpose of World Landscape Architecture Month is to celebrate landscape architecture in our public spaces. The aim is to highlight how the […]
The 'Lost Modernist': Michael O'Connell
Written by Adam Koszary, Project Officer. We’re asking you to help us decide which of our two wall hangings to display in the new Museum. Both were displayed at the 1951 Festival of Britain as part of a wider series exploring the British countryside, and have not been on public display for over 60 years. […]
Chalk or cheese? Choosing a wall hanging
Written by Adam Koszary, Project Officer. Here at the MERL we have a problem. We need to decide which of our two enormous, beautifully decorated wall hangings to display, and we’d like your help. The wall hangings are two of seven which were originally displayed at the 1951 Festival of Britain, and were made by the ‘lost […]