News and Views

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

Author
josefinabravo
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Published Date
September 4, 2018

We can’t believe we get to do this with chickens

Discover all the fun we’ve had with chickens in our Poultry Club project, in collaboration with the Poultry Club of Great Britain!

An image of an owl and a cat, made using crafts in the Ladybird making series
Author
Alison Hilton
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Published Date
August 24, 2018

Ladybird in Focus: Creating a Making display!

Discover our journey in making a simple owl and cat from the Ladybird series of books on making, and visit our free display.

Beet Singling Competition, 13 year-old Josephine Potter using a mattock, Braintree, Essex War Agricultural Executive Committee and Felsted Factory
Author
ehunt
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Published Date
August 24, 2018

Autumn is Here: Grab Your Mattock, People!

Welcome to September, it’s time to grab your mattock and head into the field. Discover more about mattocks and what they can do for you (and your harvest).

A photo of the MERL Reading Room for the Library and Archive
Author
Adam Lines
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Published Date
July 3, 2018

Changes to reading room bookings and self-service photography

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
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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