Can confirm. It was pissing it down the day I visited, yet I remained quite dry inside. Their defenses are solid.

yes it's raining, but thanks to our state-of-the-art visitor defences (roof) everyone can enjoy a dry and cool visit to The Museum of English Rural Life. plan your visit: merl.reading.ac.uk/visit/

Absolute Units returns! Listen to our latest episode with artist and disability rights activist Anahita Harding, exploring disability in museum spaces and collections. Plus, how we can shape a future that better includes and represents people with disabilities. merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...

Saw this in NYC earlier this year and it’s really something special (and would make a hell of a double feature with Paul Wright’s Arcadia)

Okay, putting this episode near the top of my list!

Absolute Units returns tomorrow! We're joined by the brilliant disability rights activist and performance artist Anahita Harding. We discuss disability in museum collections and spaces, and how we can improve representation, access, and inclusion in the future. merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...

Into folk culture and film? Come see Peter Treherne's 'Matter of Britain' at @uniofreading.bsky.social on Monday evening! The film documents an English country village’s performance of the Holy Grail myth. Stuff of legend. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/screening-...

Tickets are now available for our Summer Late (17 June, 6pm-9pm), and they're free thanks to a @uniofreading.bsky.social centenary grant! Come and discover our galleries in a whole new light, with drinks, crafts, talks, tours and more. merl.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/sum...

they're calling this tractor the ratmobile

Scientists believe that a function of a zebra’s stripes is to deter insects, so a team of researchers painted black and white stripes on several cows and discovered that it reduced the number of biting flies landing on the cows by more than 50%.

Inject these absolute units directly into my veins

This is the content I need right now… …a podcast called “Absolute Units” referring to farm animals and a discussion of mutant hogs 😛

*strikes 'mutant super pig population' off the 2027 bingo card*

just overheard a colleague say "I don't think we ever got those clogs from that dancer"

I’ve a Very Long Thursday and Friday coming up, and much of it is going to be spent in exquisite boredom. In other news, to avoid it I have a half-arsed plan to at long last visit @themerl.bsky.social and only time will tell if I get round to it.

Inspired after visiting the Radical Rural exhibition at @themerl.bsky.social I went to Kintbury to visit the grave of William Winterbourne, the only Berkshire man hanged for breaking threshing machines during the Swing Riots of the 1830’s. Really brings home how brutal life was for rural workers.

Only a few days left to go and see the Radical Rural exhibition at @themerl.bsky.social Well worth it if you can visit. Growing up around Newbury and Greenham in the 80s and 90s there were a few familiar nostalgic exhibits.

Yet another reason to visit The Museum English of Rural Life. #cats

Doomscroll break

it's not every day we welcome a visitor in a tuxedo

Another winner in the illustration category, this guide to @themerl.bsky.social set Estyn Evans back only one shilling.

Latest episode finally out!

Absolute Units returns - again! In the episode we meant to release last Thursday (lol), we pick up once more with @guyshrubsole.bsky.social to continue exploring the land ownership and access in rural England. This time, with a specific focus on hunting. merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...

Wonderful to be part of the fantastic Radical Rural trail @themerl.bsky.social, & celebrate it, & @cprecountryside.bsky.social’s centenary. Awed & inspired by the company & history. Honoured to speak. The countryside is for all. Thank you for recognising us, the rural radicals, the changemakers.1/3

extremely cool opportunity for UK writers! do a residency at the only museum that truly appreciates Big Sheeps!!!!!

Brilliant Woolfy writing opportunity but not long to apply!

this will be so good! join us to produce and facilitate creative responses to the Modernist Archives Publishing Project and holdings linked to the Bloomsbury Group <3

We’re appointing a writer-in-residence! Join us to respond to our holdings related to the Bloomsbury Group (including the archives of Leonard and Virginia Woolf’s Hogarth Press) ahead of a major exhibition in 2027. Applications close 19 May. Best of luck! collections.reading.ac.uk/news-and-vie...

Want your own folk giant? Now’s your chance! Old Crockern gets a shout out here. You can see him @themerl.bsky.social @uniofreading.bsky.social until 24th May. www.theguardian.com/2026/may/14/...

🤭

Folks: if you're a regular listener to our podcast and you've downloaded our latest episode with @guyshrubsole.bsky.social, it might give you a sense of déjà vu. That's because ...we just realised we accidentally uploaded the same episode as last time.

Thanks @themerl.bsky.social for hosting a wonderful evening. I'm very grateful to be part of Radical Rural & it was lovely to chat to @nicolawriting.bsky.social, @guyshrubsole.bsky.social, @tom-oliver.bsky.social & Henry Oliver from the North Wessex Downs National Landscape. Feeling inspired.

us seconds after posting another giant hog on the Internet

Absolute Units is back! We're joined once more by @guyshrubsole.bsky.social, zooming in on issues of rural access and land use by focusing on the modern history of grouse shooting, and its impacts on green spaces and wildlife alike. merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...

new podcast episode: loading

what an amazing evening 😻 even if I was forced to do physical labour, marring my delicate townie hands 😹 still thinking about century-long transitions from liberation (of economic energies) to control, now time for sharing? Radical Rural runs until the 24th May 👇🏽 merl.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/rad...

@imcmillan.bsky.social @jodenn.bsky.social @iansheffield50.bsky.social @ian64.bsky.social
@alqleeds.bsky.social @allanjenkins21.bsky.social
@jaketilson.bsky.social @austenpaulh.bsky.social A good evening at @themerl.bsky.social celebrating Radical Rural and CPRE. Reposted with right pics!

Hey @themerl.bsky.social, new absolute unit just dropped.

Dead chuffed to be part of @themerl.bsky.social’s ‘Radical Rural’ gallery trail, with my books featured alongside the work of @righttoroam.bsky.social, the inspiring writing of @nicolawriting.bsky.social, the songs of @threeacresacow.bsky.social & many other rural rebels!

Tomorrow, Absolute Units returns! In a second ep with @guyshrubsole.bsky.social, we discuss the modern history of countryside shooting, and - among other things - the disastrous consequences of landlords releasing 50 million pheasants each year for sport. merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...

Thanks to funding by the BFI, this year we're embarking on a project to share our collection of rural archival films at accessible screenings across rural Britain. Find out more about the project on our new blogpost! merl.reading.ac.uk/news-and-vie...

Large Livestock Museum

Taken only minutes before the largest, most psychotic one tied me to a chair and forced me to listen to 'Stuck In The Middle With You' while slicing off one of my ears.

Calling all artists: we still have spaces left on our watercolours masterclass this Thursday, led by the brilliant Linda Saul. You'll learn how to combine experimental techniques to create a beautiful and evocative landscape in miniature. Book now on our website! merl.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/min...

no AI has ever truly enjoyed a nice cup of tea on a cold day

AI this AI that no Claude has ever served a musuem visitor a scone with a smile

Ratbert Stack about to tell you what this week's episode of Unsolved Mysteries is about.

EVERYONE SHUT UP AND LOOK AT THIS FANCY RAT

Absolutely VITAL Rat Lore