News and Views

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

Author
Alison Hilton
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Published Date
June 27, 2018

‘Handling’ by poet in residence, Jack Thacker

Poet Jack Thacker writes about his first book ‘Handling’ published by Two Rivers Press in July based on his residency at the Museum of English Rural Life

An image of the front of both museums against a blue sky. The Museums Partnership Reading logo is superimposed on top.
Author
josefinabravo
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Published Date
June 27, 2018

The MERL and Reading Museum: Working together

The Museum of English Rural Life and Reading Museum are working together as Museums Partnership Reading until 2022, funded by Arts Council England.

Chip Colquhoun with open arms against a background of archive images of craftspeople
Author
Alison Hilton
/
Published Date
June 4, 2018

Life of the People

Discover the stories and videos created by storyteller and author Chip Colquhoun inspired by the MERL collections, exploring rural life, work and folklore.

Two white hands planting a small corn plant in soil in the MERL test bed.
Author
josefinabravo
/
Published Date
May 25, 2018

The MERL Test Bed: Germination!

In 2018/19 Soil Science PhD students are testing whether the Three Sisters intercropping method can increase the yield of corn in the MERL Test Bed.

muddy pans piled on a bench in the garden
Author
Alison Hilton
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Published Date
May 21, 2018

Friday Fledglings: What’s it all about?

Discover the value of outdoor learning in this interview with Charlotte Allchin, a Forest Leader who runs the MERL’s Friday Fledglings toddler group

Author
fionamelhuish
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Published Date
May 16, 2018

The new buzz about bees : the Cowan Bee Collection

Discover the Cowan Bee Collection, the MERL library’s most recent acquisition, donated by Defra, which will be catalogued thanks to the Eva Crane Trust

A black and white photograph of a ram facing right, as featured in the viral absolute unit tweet.
Author
Ollie Douglas
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Published Date
April 10, 2018

The history behind an absolute unit

Intrigued by the photo of the‘absolute unit’ that’s been doing the rounds on social media? Why was this ram such a unit? Why…

Author
Alison Hilton
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Published Date
April 6, 2018

Growing Communities: 3 Years of Forging Histories at The MERL

Discover the highlights of the Museum of English Rural Life’s 3 year HLF-funded programme of projects with communities in Reading and beyond

Author
Alison Hilton
/
Published Date
March 28, 2018

A tractor you can climb on!

Discover story behind the new wooden play tractor for families in the garden at Museum of English Rural Life