News Archive

Holiday Fun for Families at the Museum of English Rural Life – University of Reading

The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL), which is owned and managed by the University of Reading, is holding a series of fun events for families during the April school holidays.

Local artists will be running workshops inspired by the MERL garden, exhibitions and collections.

The first event, Pleasing pot plants, will be held on Tuesday April 8th, from 2pm to 4pm. Ellen Brown will be helping children (aged seven and above) and adults to pot a plant or seeds and create a holder using recycled materials. As places are limited, it is necessary to book onto this workshop.

On Wednesday April 9th, artist Ruth Hatch is working with families to create a butterfly life-cycle mobile using recycled materials and bits from MERL's garden. Families with children aged seven and above can drop-in to this session which runs from 2pm to 4pm.

Ellen Brown returns on Thursday 10th April for Costume drama. Using the Museum's collections for inspiration, Ellen will show families (with children aged 7 and above) how to make clothes and hats from paper and then read a story on the magic carpet. As places are limited, it is necessary to book onto this workshop, which runs from 1pm to 4pm.

In the second week of the holidays MERL is offering two drop-in workshops. Families with children aged 7 and above can have a go at creating origami animals and flowers on Tuesday 15th April from 2-3pm and 3.15 to 4.15pm, and on Wednesday 16th from 2 to 4pm, Julie Roberts will teach monoprinting and help make cards or a display for the MERL studio. This workshop is suitable for families with children aged 6 and above.

Bekky Moran, Learning Manager at MERL, said: "We hope that these events encourage families to enjoy fun and interesting activities together.

Even if you don't want to take part in a workshop, there are plenty of activities to do in the Museum at any time, including a rat trail, brass rubbing, puzzles and colouring.

"You can even dress up as a Victorian farmer now and adults and children can have fun trying on the hats, smocks and clogs! They are beautifully made reproductions of items of clothing we have in our collections. We now have picnic tables in our garden, so why not bring your lunch and make a day of it?"

For more information or to book, anyone interested in attending should call the Museum of English Rural Life on 0118 378 8660, email merlevents@reading.ac.ukor visit the Museum's website at www.merl.org.uk/news

Ends

Note for media: Media are welcome to attend. If you wish to come along, please contact Alison Hilton, marketing officer, on 0118 378 8660

Notes for editors:

1. More information about the Museum of English Rural Life

The Museum of English Rural Life, in Redlands Road, Reading, was founded by the University of Reading in 1951 to reflect and record the changing face of farming and the countryside. It houses designated collections of national importance that span the full range of objects, archives, photographs, film and books. Today, it forms part of the University's Museums and Collections Service. The Museum operates as a major resource and research centre for the history of food, farming and the countryside with links into the School of History and other academic departments at the University.

The Museum is open from Tuesday to Friday, 9am to 5pm and at weekends from 2pm to 4.30pm

2.The Museum of English Rural Life is part of the Thames Valley Museums (TVM) Family Friendly campaign – a scheme which brings together 30 museums across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, to promote their popular appeal to the whole family. The Family Friendly logo provides an instantly recognisable guarantee of quality family friendly facilities at member museums. The TVM Family Friendly Initiative is part of the Tourism South East Family Fun campaign