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Rural Museums Network

@ruralmuseums.bsky.social
435 followers 62 following 23 posts

The Rural Museums Network is a registered charity, aimed at promoting learning and encouraging a wider understanding of the UK’s rural heritage.

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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
This Thursday at 3pm 🌷🌱🪴
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
In advance of World Mental Health Day, join us online to learn how rural museums can use their green spaces to support mental health, with speakers from Ulster Folk Museum and Museum of English Rural Life Thursday 8th October, 3pm - 4:30pm, online 👉To book: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rmn-agm-an...
eventbrite.co.uk
RMN AGM and Seminar 2026
Rural Museums Network AGM followed by Rural Voices Seminar: 'Museums as spaces for health and wellbeing'
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
This Thursday!
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Join us on Thursday 11th June where we will look at how museums can digitise and share their moving picture archives with speakers from Northern Ireland Screen, the Museum of English Rural Life and UistFilm Thursday 11th June 3pm – 4:30pm Online 👉To book: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/digitising...
eventbrite.co.uk
Digitising Film Archives: preservation and accessibility
This Rural Museums Network online seminar will share experiences of three projects digitising their moving image archives.
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
In the run up to Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month, join our ‘GRT in Conversation’ event where Billy Welch, main organiser of Appleby Horse Fair, talks with Beamish Museum’s Senior Keeper Seb Littlewood Thursday 14th May 12:30pm – 1:30pm Online 👉To book: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/grt-in-con...
eventbrite.co.uk
GRT in Conversation
In the run up to Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month join Rural Museums Network's GRT in Conversation event.
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Reposted by Rural Museums Network
The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
good Friday afternoon thought experiment
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Reposted by Rural Museums Network
The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
A spirit watches over Dartmoor. His face is granite grey. His eyes are dark as peat pools. His name is Old Crockern. And today he’s at The Museum of English Rural Life. Learn Crockern's story on Absolute Units, w/ Ruth Webb & @lisaschneidau.bsky.social, out now! merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
merl.reading.ac.uk
Absolute Units podcast - The Museum of English Rural Life
Come for the big sheep. Stay for the history of rural England and its people.
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Royal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · 15/01/2026
JOIN US: our Associate Fellowship category is for those at an earlier stage their research careers - for example, completion of a #History PhD, or history professionals (teachers, curators, archivists etc) who make research possible. Applications welcome at any time bit.ly/44r8NTg #Skystorians 1/2
bit.ly
Apply for Associate Fellowship - RHS
Closing dates for next applications: Mondays 9 March and 11 May 2026   Associate Fellowship recognises the contribution made by a wide range of historical researchers and advocates for History with es...
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
This Thursday, we’ll be looking at how we can rethink rural museums through auditing and rationalising collections, with speakers from Ulster Folk Museum and the Food Museum. Thursday 4th December 3pm - 4:15pm Online 👉For details and to book: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rethinking...
eventbrite.co.uk
Rethinking the Rural Life Museum: “Irons, Pots and Griddles oh my!”
Join us to hear how two RMN member organisations are approaching Audit and Rationalisation in their museums...
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
In the last of our 2025 seminars, we will look at how we can rethink rural museums through auditing and rationalising collections, with speakers from Ulster Folk Museum and the Food Museum. Thursday 4th December 3pm - 4:15pm Online 👉For details and to book: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rethinking...
eventbrite.co.uk
Rethinking the Rural Life Museum: “Irons, Pots and Griddles oh my!”
Join us to hear how two RMN member organisations are approaching Audit and Rationalisation in their museums...
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
This Thursday, join us to discover how museums can collect and study rural protest, with an online seminar hosted by Museum of English Rural Life's Curator, Ollie Douglas. Thursday 6th November 3pm – 4:15pm online 👉For details and to book: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/collecting...
eventbrite.co.uk
Collecting and Studying Rural Protest
Moments of rural unrest can be long-simmering or very short-lived. So, how do we begin to grapple with these histories in museums?
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
How can museums collect, document and study rural protest? That’s the question our next seminar will seek to answer, exploring the topic of rural protest and what the role of museums can be. Thursday 6th November 3pm – 4:15pm online 👉For details and to book: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/collecting...
eventbrite.co.uk
Collecting and Studying Rural Protest
Moments of rural unrest can be long-simmering or very short-lived. So, how do we begin to grapple with these histories in museums?
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Reposted by Rural Museums Network
Ollie Douglas @olliedouglas.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
Here is a brilliant new episode of Absolute Units with @timjerrome.bsky.social. Co-presented and very professionally produced by the inimitable @joevaughan.net, as always. merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
merl.reading.ac.uk
Absolute Units - The Museum of English Rural Life podcast
Come for the big animals. Stay for fascinating and surprising stories about England's rural past, as told by our collections.
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Reposted by Rural Museums Network
Yorkshire Dales National Park @yorkshiredales.org.uk · 10/10/2025
On World Mental Health Day remember that it's ok not to be ok. It’s also ok to talk about it and ask for help. And remember that spending some time in nature can benefit your mental health 👇 yorkshiredales.org.uk/healing-with... 📸 Wendy McDonnell #WorldMentalHealthDay #WMHD25 #MentalHealth
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Less than a week to go! Join us online as Bob Powell, specialist in historic farming and heavy horses, talks about Herefordshire ‘Cart Horse’ history. Book now for our online seminar – Thursday 2nd October 3pm 👉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/herefordsh...
eventbrite.co.uk
Herefordshire 'Cart Horse' History
Rural Museums Network AGM followed by Seminar with Q&A with historic farming specialist Bob Powell
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 14/09/2025
Join us on Thursday 2nd October for the first in our autumn seminar series where the fascinating Bob Powell, former curator of the Weald & Downland Museum and Highland Folk Museum, will be talking about Herefordshire Cart Horse history. 👉 Book your ticket now www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/herefordsh...
eventbrite.co.uk
Herefordshire 'Cart Horse' History
Rural Museums Network AGM followed by Seminar with Q&A with historic farming specialist Bob Powell
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Reposted by Rural Museums Network
The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
New Absolute Units is live! Tune in for episode 10, as we chat to photographer & sheep farmer Amy Bateman about digital technology on modern farms: from advantages, to risks. Listen & subscribe wherever you get your podcasts: merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
The logo for Absolute Units. Three giant sheep float over the English countryside.
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Orkney Library & Archive @orkneylibrary.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
Are your sheep always turning up late for work? Are they taking too long on their lunch break or simply struggling to get through the workload? Are they always just mucking about? Then you need some
An old book titled Intensive Sheep Management.
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The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
thanks for the very kind messages about our newest podcast with Man in the Woods! if you're looking for a gentle listen this weekend, treat yourself to something nice and join us as we talk about walking through the countryside and making art from what you find: merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
The art for Absolute Units - three giant sheep float over the English countryside.
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
Less than a week to go! Discover how your #rural #museum can be an ally of your local indigenous #language including Welsh, Irish Gaelic, Cornish and Scottish Gaelic. Book now for our online seminar - Thursday 1st May 2.30pm 👉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rural-muse...
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
We’re delighted to be working with the International Association of Agricultural Museums on a joint event at @themerl.bsky.social Back on Track – facing twin challenges of the 21st Century 9-11 May Full programme and booking information for this free event 👉 www.ruralmuseums.org.uk?page_id=1876
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
Want to know how your #rural #museum can be an ally of your local indigenous #language including Welsh, Irish Gaelic, Cornish and Scottish Gaelic? Then our next seminar is for you! ⏰ Thursday 1st May 2.30pm 🎟️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rural-muse...
eventbrite.co.uk
Rural Museums as allies of indigenous British languages
Join us online as we explore how rural museums can support indigenous British languages.
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Reposted by Rural Museums Network
Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · 01/04/2025
Absolute Units is already in the top 100 History charts on Apple Podcasts!! 🙇
Screenshot of Apple Podcasts rankings, showing MERL podcast at rank 85
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
This Thursday! Find out how Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) - a tradition, practice, or living expression of a group or community, inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants - applies to rural museums. Book now for our spring seminar 👉 www.ruralmuseums.org.uk?page_id=1854
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
Thursday 3 April 2025, 3.00pm – 4.00pm. Online, via Zoom
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) is a tradition, practice, or living expression of a group or community, inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants. Intrigued about how this applies to rural museums? Book now for our spring seminar 👉 www.ruralmuseums.org.uk?page_id=1854
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
Want to find out more about Intangible Cultural Heritage and what it means for Rural Museums? Book now for the first of our 2025 seminars at 3pm on Thursday 3 April via Zoom. Tickets are just £5 for non-members. To find out more and to book your space visit www.ruralmuseums.org.uk?page_id=1854
Black and white photograph of a white older man wearing a flat cap, tweed jacket and dark trousers. He is standing next to a large unicorn sculpture made from straw. Behind the unicorn is a large straw sculpture of a lion.
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Fantastic first “Chewing the Cud” session of 2025 - these are our informal online sessions for members when we ask someone to present something they’re working on or a topic close to their heart, open the floor to questions and discussions and see where it leads…!
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
So pleased you could join us for today’s discussion - so many extra leads and potential contacts were shared to support Jenny’s ongoing research, we hope she’ll come back and let us know what she discovers!
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
Love this! Who knew that in Wiltshire a “not-cow” was a cow without horns?
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 19/01/2025
Some of our recent work - the Rural Relevance Toolkit was intended for non-specialists and is designed to build confidence in managing, and enthusiasm for using, rural collections in museums. We hope it’s useful and would love to hear feedback and any suggestions to improve it further!
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Rural Museums Network @ruralmuseums.bsky.social · 19/01/2025
To introduce ourselves here on Bluesky, take a look at this short film about us. The Rural Museums Network are a registered charity, aimed at promoting learning and encouraging a wider understanding of the UK’s rural heritage. Find out more at www.RuralMuseums.org.uk m.youtube.com/watch?si=ZlR...
m.youtube.com
Introducing the Rural Museums Network - Full
YouTube video by Rural Museums Network
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