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News and Views

Two pigs at Inclusive Farm
Author
Tim Jerrome
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Published Date
May 1, 2024

Further Afield update blog – May 2024

Read our latest update on the Further Afield project, which trials new approaches to co-curation with community groups.

A large painting depicting gypsy or traveller people with horses, dogs and caravans
Author
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Published Date
April 15, 2024

The Power to Tell It for Ourselves

Acquisition, cataloguing and display are vital matters of consent. Learn how we’re evolving our approach throughout our work.

finger tips touch as people rub hands together to sow seeds in a tray
Author
Alison Hilton
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Published Date
March 21, 2024

Community Gardening: Sow What?

Our latest community project explored how gardening and cooperation benefit wellbeing.

Maasai people gathered at a community event
Author
Alison Hilton
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Published Date
March 14, 2024

Cattle, colonialism, and conversations about land

MERL Curator, Dr Ollie Douglas explores connections between The MERL and British agricultural influence in East Africa following a trip to Kenya and Tanzania last year.

people browsing the displays in the staircase hall at The MERL
Author
Alison Hilton
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Published Date
March 11, 2024

Glow Up! St Andrew’s Staircase Hall Redevelopment Project

For the first time in twenty years, St Andrew’s Hall has been presented anew. Visitors – including University staff, students and the general public – can now discover books, archives and artworks from the Museum of English Rural Life’s Library and Archive, Special Collections and University Art Collections.

Detail of ploughs in the Digging Deeper gallery at The MERL
Author
Alison Hilton
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Published Date
January 8, 2024

Ploughs and Ploughing: some reflections from the headland

On Plough Monday, MERL Curator, Dr Ollie Douglas, discusses his appearance on Radio 4 Farming Today’s special programme on ploughing, and the MERL’s collection of ploughs.

covers of MAFF bulletins relating to bee keeping and honey production
Author
Alison Hilton
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Published Date
January 2, 2024

Advising the Nation: the MAFF bulletins

As the project to catalogue The MERL’s collection of bulletins published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is completed, Collections Librarian, Claudia Ricci explores the history and significance of the publications.

The Gavle Christmas Goat 2006
Author
Tim Jerrome
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Published Date
December 18, 2023

Yule never baa-lieve it: a case for the Yule Goat at Christmas

The MERL’s Collections Researcher, Tim Jerrome investigates pagan influence on Christmas traditions, and asks why we don’t include the Yule Goat in our celebrations in England.

A group of people dressed for hiking pose together for a photo in a field - with a dog at the centre
Author
Tim Jerrome
/
Published Date
December 4, 2023

The MERL is going Further Afield

Collections Researcher Tim Jerrome introduces our newest project at The MERL, Further Afield, which trials new approaches to community driven museum outputs, working with groups who have been historically underrepresented in the countryside.