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News and Views

Discover stories from our collections, work, research, and events. Warning: may contain absolute units.

Author
Ollie Douglas
/
Published Date
June 18, 2020

Farming and mental health – past and present

In this guest blog, the University of Nottingham’s Dr Sarah Holland explores the history of rural communities, farming, and mental health.

Photograph of Greenham Common from The MERL's collection.
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
June 15, 2020

Contested Countryside: Commons & the Cold War

How did a small group of West Berkshire Commoners impact on the US-USSR nuclear arms race in the 1980s? Read on and find out.

Rhea Douglas teaching in the MERL galleries
Author
Alison Hilton
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Published Date
June 5, 2020

5 Reasons I love the new school sessions at The MERL

The Museum of English Rural Life’s Learning Officer says what she loves about the new school sessions launching this term

A drawer full of red toy tractors and yellow toy boxes
Author
Ollie Douglas
/
Published Date
May 29, 2020

Object Handling at Home – farm toys

Image from Gambling with Floods by Louise Arnal at The MERL
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
May 20, 2020

“Gambling with floods?” An immersive Sci-Art exhibition

Dr Louise Arnal discusses her immersive SciArt installation: “Gambling with Floods?” Can today’s supercomputers make sense of nature’s ‘noisy chaos’?

Author
Ollie Douglas
/
Published Date
May 1, 2020

Agricultural Shows in the Picture

In connection with the Greatest Online Agricultural Show, our curator explores the history of these events and introduces us to photographer Arnhel de Serra

Smocked collar area in white linen
Author
Ollie Douglas
/
Published Date
April 30, 2020

Object-handling at home – the smock

In this special #MuseumFromHome post our curator, Ollie Douglas, introduces us to smocks and helps us to explore their history and design from home.

Straw work bee skeps in the MERL
Author
Ollie Douglas
/
Published Date
April 16, 2020

Object-handling at home – the bee skep

As part of the Bee Happy online event, MERL curator explores bee skeps and describes a hands-on activity to help us learn about bee homes

Fledgling families in the MERL garden
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
April 3, 2020

Friday Fledglings – Online Special

Because the museum is closed, this week we’re doing Friday Fledglings a little differently. Read a letter from Little Mouse, do crafts, and more!