A World of Birds

Mansfield Museum (2024-)

Creating a new gallery for environmental education and action, getting collections out of storerooms

Back in 2020, I was consulted by Mansfield Museum (a fairly small museum in Nottinghamshire, England) to evaluate their collection of taxidermied birds. Almost none of the collection was on display, and birds in cases were unidentified. It was quickly obvious that the collection was significant, in terms of specimens representing important historical records (including a few ‘firsts’ for Britain); a large collection of albinos and other abnormally coloured birds; and a number of large dioramas of birds from different geographical regions.

The museum applied for a grant, drawing on the report I had written as a case for support, and this provided funding to get the collection identified and to develop an exhibition.

The gallery features nearly 700 birds of almost 500 species…

A World of Birds was developed as a permanent gallery, that is flexible for multiple uses and interests. I worked with the museum curator and with the design firm to develop the gallery and interactive. My role was as content expert and interpretation consultant (selecting specimens, storylines, writing text etc.)

The gallery draws on the ‘traditional’ museum feeling to present the large dioramas to their best, focussing the viewer on the birds themselves. Interpretation of the cases is relatively light touch, with detailed information on every species and specimen in a digital interactive. 

The gallery features nearly 700 birds of almost 500 species, and brings the excellent collection out of the storeroom to give it a new life. Interpretation outlines where the birds came from (as far as we know), the context of trade, travel and natural history collecting, and how birds can be conserved today. The gallery is accompanied by a reflective space where people can explore opportunitites to follow up on their interests, information from local conservation groups, and a changing art gallery space drawing on the museum’s art collection as well as the work of local people.