Migrant workers: hidden rural mobilities

UK farming relies on seasonal migrant workers to plant, harvest and pack fruit and vegetables. Over 90% of seasonal workers in the UK are migrants. Yet, they tend to be a hidden community across rural spaces.

In previous exhibitions—on raspberries and strawberries—illustrations by Sarah Hannis showed the work of migrants and their role in food production from farm to fork. This final instalment shows the physical mobility experienced by seasonal migrant workers, during farm labour as well as in the transitions as they arrive, depart, and move between crops and farms. These stories are based on interviews with workers and on photos they shared during the Feeding the Nation research project.

This exhibition is a collaboration between artist Sarah Hannis, the Feeding the Nation research team, and The MERL.

Let's get moving

Migrant workers: hidden rural mobilities

Image of daffodil pickers showing how UK farming relies on seasonal migrant workers

UK farming relies on seasonal migrant workers to plant, harvest and pack fruit and vegetables. Over 90% of seasonal workers in the UK are migrants. Yet, they tend to be a hidden community across rural spaces. In previous exhibitions—on raspberries and strawberries—illustrations by Sarah Hannis showed the work of migrants and their role in food […]

Our Green Stories in the Galleries

The logo for Our Green Stories

Welcome to Our Green Stories, a Museums Partnership Reading campaign exploring climate change, sustainability, and biodiversity loss through collections. This online journey is designed to help us think about what we can do to care for the planet, both individually and collectively. The histories, practices, technologies, challenges, and solutions revealed as part of Our Green […]

In Conversation with Bill Hooks

Detail showing domestic pruning knives inspired by billhooks sitting on a table top surface.
This exhibition features a series of five object sets made by artist Alice Blackstock and designer/maker Philip Crewe. These investigate the making and meaning of a tool called a billhook. This 2019 collaboration began with a visit to see billhooks held at The MERL. It led to the creation of work exploring loss of purpose, [...]

Fast Fashion: Then and Now

A Singer sewing machine.
Fast fashion is a business model for the clothing industry which is firmly embedded within Western culture. It produces cheap, accessible clothing that mimics the latest catwalk trends, and ensures that production costs remain as low as possible. At a time when the cost of living continues to rise, it is no surprise that the [...]

Migrant workers: Summer on a strawberry farm

One of 30 ink and watercolour sketches by Sarah Hannis providing insight into the daily lives of migrant agricultural workers who came to the UK in 2021. This image shows workers walking to work.

In a previous exhibition, illustrations by Sarah Hannis showed the work of seasonal migrants in winter. As we progress to warmer months, this exhibition shows the role of migrant workers during summer on a UK strawberry farm. The story is based on interviews with workers and on photos they shared during the Feeding the Nation […]

Migrant workers: The raspberry planter

Detail from one of 30 ink and watercolour sketches by Sarah Hannis, provide an insight into the daily lives of migrant agricultural workers

This exhibition is part of a new series exploring the role of seasonal migrant workers in UK food security. Illustrations by Sarah Hannis provide an insight into the lives of migrant agricultural workers who came to the UK in 2020 and 2021. The accompanying story is based on interviews with workers and on photos they […]

Digital labels – Making Rural England

Reminiscent of daily rural life, this gallery showcases rural culture through crafts, living spaces, hunting and more. The diversity of countryside people throughout history is encapsulated by these displays.

Digital labels – Forces for Change

Farming has existed since humankind could walk, and has constantly been propelled forward by new tools and technologies. This gallery is dedicated to these advancements in farming, and highlights innovations that led to social as well as agricultural changes, such as the threshing machine.

Digital labels – Town and Country

Sometimes the lines between rural and urban can become blurred, which this gallery demonstrates. It focuses on the crossover between town and country, including healthcare practice, advances in technology, and allotment farming.

Digital labels – A Year on the Farm

Working life on the farm changes according to the season. In this gallery, discover where food comes from and learn how we have access to it all year round. To find out more about an object, click the icon hovering above it.