May 2013
Time flies
It’s May already and I must apologise for my lack of blog posts recently. It’s been a busy time for Amgueddfa Cymru.
I’m delighted that we have ended the year with another set of strong visitor figures attracting 1,745,315 visitors, exceeding 1.7m visitors for the first time ever. In 2012, we celebrated 1.69 million visits as the highest total ever recorded since free entry was introduced in April 2001, and this year we had an extra 55,289 visitors compared to the previous year of year, up by 3.27%.
Amgueddfa Cymru has now achieved record visitor figures for two consecutive years and I am delighted that we’ve succeeded in breaking yet another record this year, which is testimony to the quality of the service delivered by the Museums and the true value of the Welsh Government’s free entry policy.
It’s been a challenging time for the organisation. The current financial climate poses unprecedented challenges for every public sector organisation in Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru is no exception. Amgueddfa Cymru is facing a reduced budget and must find £2.5m in savings over the next three years. We have recently undertaken a period of consultation with staff and partners regarding a proposed new structure for the organisation which will be announced shortly. I’m very grateful for the patience and cooperation of Amgueddfa Cymru staff during this difficult period.
The proposed changes will not affect the day-to-day operations of the seven national museums across Wales. In finding savings, we have given priority to sustaining services for users. Amgueddfa Cymru will continue to offer visitors quality experiences at each of its sites.
Since I last posted on my blog, a new Culture & Sports Minister has been appointed in the Welsh Government, John Griffiths AM whom I had the pleasure of meeting recently. I am very grateful for the support and work of the previous Heritage Minister Mr Huw Lewis over the past few years and I’m really looking forward to working with Mr Griffiths.
It seems like a long time ago now but I was in Chongqing in China at the beginning of March for the opening of our Amgueddfa Cymru exhibition Wales: Land of the Red Dragon at the China Three Gorges Museum. Promoting Wales as a contemporary nation through international work is one of our main priorities and this partnership is an excellent way to give the 30 million people living in the Chongqing region the chance to learn more about Wales’ rich and unique assets in culture, history and the environment.
I recently bought a copy of E.P. Thompson’s William Morris: From Romantic to Revolutionary. It is a few years since I last read anything by E.P. Thompson, and his Customs in Common has long been on my list of future reads. I found the postscript to the 1976 edition, in which he discusses Morris’s place in the history of communism, moving because of the very personal way in which Thompson refers to his own thinking on this subject.
Peregrines on the Clock Tower 2013
May 3 update
Plenty of feeding taking place today and I think there may now be 3 chicks. Their heads are becoming more visible by the day so it should soon be very obvious how many chicks there are. Female seems to be doing most of the feeding at the moment with the male bringing in the food.
I hope the chicks are more sensible this year when they are bigger and don't get too adventurous too soon - the ledge by the nest isn't very wide!
Watch their progress here
SS Philip and James School Garden
Thank you to SS Philip and James School for these great photos.
Your garden looks lovely!
Many thanks,
Prof P
Professor Plant’s Promise: Late flowers won’t get left behind
Hi Super Scientists,
4116 of you have helped with the Spring Bulbs investigation this year – which is truly FANTASTIC! I am very, very busy this week getting your certificates ready to send out to you!
But for some of you the investigation is not over yet… your flowers are still not open.
What do you do if your flowers have not yet opened?
Please keep sending in flower data! If your flowers have not opened and you would like to carry on with your investigation then please do! When they open you can still record the flowering date and plant height on our website.
So why have a deadline?
I have to write a special report every year that gives a summary of all the data sent in so far. I need to write that report now. All records sent in before the deadline will be included in this years report.
What happens to records sent in after the deadline?
Records sent in after the deadline will be added to our database and will be included in next years report. All the records that you send are very important and will help the investigation to be more accurate in the future. I promise you that your data will not be lost or wasted.
Who are the people in the photo??
I would like to introduce you to Nick and Pat Bean who own the farm, Springfields Fresh Produce, where your daffodil bulbs come from! These are pictures of them in a field of Tenby daffodils that they have grown on their farm.
Whose has sent in flowers records for the first time?
Thank you to the following schools for sending in their flower records: Gladestry C.I.W. School, Williamstown Primary, St Athan Primary, Ysgol Hiraddug and Bwlchgwyn CP School in Wales, Hawthornden Primary School, Ladybank Primary School, Tynewater Primary School and Torbain Primary School in Scotland, and Larkrise Primary School, Britannia Community Primary School and Thorneyholme RC Primary School in England.
Well done too to all the schools that keep sending in more and more flower records to make our investigation more accurate!
Many thanks,
Prof P
Natural science collections in Welsh museums – a Distributed National Collection
There are number of reasons why we would want to undertake a national review of museum collections. One of them is to aid the development of a Distributed National Collection (DNC), one of the most exciting collections management concepts in recent years.
DNC - What is it?
The idea of the DNC implies a shared responsibility for our heritage. The Museum Strategy for Wales recognises that collections telling the story of Wales are kept across the nation by a diverse range of museum institutions. Collections – and the knowledge that goes with them – remain at the heart of museums; they are the reason museums exist and what makes them unique.
Many museums collect to reflect the culture and natural history of the geographic area they cover. Other museums collect material related to a specific site, activity, community or object specialism. A museum’s collecting remit is usually defined in its acquisition policy. When accepting objects into their collections museums consider not only to their own acquisition policies, but also those of other museums – this coordinated approach to collecting is one benefit of the shared knowledge that comes with a DNC.
There are a number of reasons that may reduce a museum’s capacity to collect as comprehensively as it had previously done. An agreement with other museums could facilitate the development of specialized subject-based collections, and arrangements to facilitate management of and access to objects and specimens. Institutions across Wales would co-ordinate the collection, display, research, storage and disposal of collections to ensure the greatest access to collections with efficient targeting of resources. This strategy represents a move away from the location of collections to a focus on how they are used and cared for.
Why do we need one?
The concept of the DNC was adopted by CyMAL for the Welsh Assembly Government within the 2010 Museum Strategy for Wales, and endorsed by museums across Wales. Collections and the stories they tell are the most fundamental of museum assets. In recent years there have been a number of important initiatives to better document, understand and care for museum collections. Whilst this remains by no means a comprehensive achievement with much still to be done, we now have an opportunity to take stock and develop new concepts and initiatives.
Driving factors for the development of a DNC may be funding constraints, or loss of specialist expertise. However, the DNC is about more than simply pooling resources. The concept enables the museum sector to, among other things:
- promote our collections,
- work collaboratively across the sector,
- collect comprehensively, and
- improve access both within the collecting community and for the public.
How will it help the public?
The public benefit lies in a better understanding and appreciation of our collections, which opens up ways and means to improve our enjoyment of and access to them. Knowing where the most historically significant and intrinsically important items and records are kept, and how they can be accessed, can only be of benefit to those who wish to see them as well as to those charged with their long term care and interpretation.
What’s in it for museums?
The DNC enables information to be discovered and shared, omissions within collections identified and areas of overlap addressed with informed collecting. This makes museum collections more robust and relevant. Scientists, such as biologists and geologists, in particular, have long known that museum collections globally are one single resource. Specimens held in museum collections form a physical inventory of the history of life on Earth. Specimens are kept, in preference to data and images alone, for the physical information they contain.
Museums are seen by the public as unbiased guardians of factual information and therefore have the potential, if they are not reduced to simply recycling nostalgia, for influencing public opinion in an authoritative way. The concept of the DNC formalises the relationship between museums and supports easier sharing of specimens and information. It forms a coordinated strategy to ensure the preservation of a nation’s cultural material, and to facilitate broader physical and intellectual access to it. Museum collections will add up to much more than the sum of their parts. This partnership approach is important in any subject discipline, not only in natural history, for museums to retain their status as keepers of knowledge.
Natural history museums are in the midst of an unprecedented opportunity for linking collections-based research with the experiences they offer to the millions of people they serve each year. If they are successful in fully integrating these two historically separate realities, they have enormous potential to elevate the public understanding of, engagement with, and participation in urgent and compelling scientific challenges now and in the future.
April 2013
Peregrines on the Clock Tower 2013
Update 30 April
Great news, at least one chick has hatched over the weekend. The female spent 10 mintues or so tearing off little morsels for a chick this morning. I could just make out a little white head wobbling around. As I write this the female is back brooding the chick and the remaining eggs. Apologies for the quality of the photo, the only way I can get screen shots of any activity is to photograph the screen.
Super Scientist Awards 2013
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Eighty five schools across the UK will be awarded Super Scientist Certificates from Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales this year, in recognition of their contribution to the Spring Bulbs – Climate Change Investigation!
Huge Congratulations to all these schools! They are listed below, is your school listed?
Over twice as many schools took part in the Investigation as last year, which is fantastic news! It’s wonderful to have so many of you helping with this really important study.
Thank you to every one of the 4116 pupils who helped this year! Thank you for working so hard planting, observing, measuring and recording - you really are Super Scientists! Each one of you will receive a certificate and Super Scientist pencil, these will be sent to your school around the middle of May.
Many thanks to the Edina Trust for funding this project and helping to make this all happen.
Super Scientist Winners 2013
Well done to our three winners for sending in the most weather data! Each will receive a class trip of fun-packed nature activities.
- SS Philip and James Primary School in England
- Williamstown Primary School in Wales
- Wormit Primary School in Scotland
Runners Up
Each school will receive a gift voucher to purchase lovely things for your gardening projects.
- Balcurvie Primary School in Scotland
- Sofrydd Primary School in Wales
- Stanford in the Vale Primary School in England
Highly commended
Each school will receive certificates, pencils, flower seeds and herb seeds.
- Balmerino Primary School
- Blaenycwm Primary School
- Britannia Community Primary School
- Coed-y-Lan Primary School
- Coppull Parish Primary School
- Dunbog Primary School
- Freuchie Primary School
- Glyncollen Primary School
- Henllys CIW Primary School
- Oakfield Primary School
- St Athan Primary School
- St Joseph's RC Primary School (Penarth)
- St Roberts Roman Cathlic Primary School
- Torbain Primary School
- Tynewater Primary School
- Westwood CP School
- Ysgol Gynradd Talybont
- Ysgol Nant y Coed
- Ysgol y Ffridd
Schools with special recognition
Each school will receive, certificates, pencils and flower seeds.
- Brynhyfryd Junior School
- Bwlchgwyn CP School
- Darran Park Primary
- Gladestry CIW School
- Greyfriars RC Primary School
- Hawthornden Primary School
- Kilmaron Special School
- Lakeside Primary School
- Llangan Primary School
- Magor Church in Wales Primary School
- Milford Haven Junior School
- Newburgh Primary School
- Newport Primary School
- Rhydypenau Primary School
- Rogiet Primary School
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School (Wales)
- St Mary's RC Primary School (England)
- Stepping Stones Short Stay School
- Thorneyholme RC Primary School
- Ysgol Bodafon
- Ysgol Bryn Garth
- Ysgol Clocaenog
- Ysgol Deganwy
- Ysgol Hiraddug
- Ysgol Porth y Felin
Schools to be awarded certificates
Each school will receive Super Scientist Certificates and pencils.
- Archbishop Hutton's Primary School
- Auchtertool Primary School
- Cadoxton Primary School
- Christchurch CP School
- Duloch Primary School
- Eyton Church in Wales Primary School
- Freckleton CE Primary School
- Fulwood and Cadley Primary School
- Harwell Primary School
- Holy Family RC Primary School
- Hywel Da Primary School
- Ladybank Primary School
- Ladygrove Park Primary School
- LasswadePrimary School
- Lever House Primary School
- Manor Primary School
- Medlar with Wesham CE Primary School
- Nether Kellet Primary School
- Northbourne CE Primary School
- Park Primary School
- RAF Benson Primary School
- Rishton Methodist Primary School
- Sherwood Primary School
- St John's Catholic Primary School
- St Nicholas Primary School
- Stepaside CP School
- Tor View Community Special School
- Weeton Primary School
- Windale Primary School
- Ysgol Capelulo
- Ysgol Gymunedol Dolwyddelan
- Ysgol Iau Hen Golwyn
- Ysgol Morfa Rhianedd
- Ysgol Pencae
Well done, you have all done an AMAZING job.
Daffodil Drawing Competition 2013
Congratulations to the following pupils who produced some excellent botanical drawings! 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize winners will receive a bird watching kit with mini binoculars.
- 1st: Oliver Braddy – Stanford in the Vale Primary School
- 2nd: Sam – St Joseph's RC Primary School (Penarth)
- 3rd: Daniel (age 6) – Stanford in the Vale Primary School
Runners Up
All will receive flower seeds for your garden.
- Etward? (age 6) – Stanford in the Vale Primary School
- Finlay (age 7) – Stanford in the Vale Primary School
- Jemima – St Joseph's RC Primary School (Penarth)
- Joe – St Joseph's RC Primary School (Penarth)
- Joshua – St Joseph's RC Primary School (Penarth)
- Joshua (age 7) – Stanford in the Vale Primary School
- Larson (age 11) – Stanford in the Vale Primary School
- Leo – Stanford in the Vale Primary School
- Nathan – St Joseph's RC Primary School (Penarth)
- William Glen (age 5) – Stanford in the Vale Primary School
Many Thanks
Professor Plant
Please send your flower records
The extended deadline for flower records is Friday 19 April – that is this Friday bulb buddies! Please remember to send me your records on the website.
Remember to check the bulb-blog next week as I will be announcing the Competition winners!! Winners for the Flower Drawing Competition and the Win a Nature-Activity Trip will be announced on Monday 22 April.
Whose flowers have opened this week?
Lakeside Primary, Ysgol Bryn Garth, Christchurch CP School and Rhydypenau Primary School in Wales, Manor Primary School and Coppull Parish Primary School in England and Wormit Primary School in Scotlandhave all sent in flower records. Well done and thank you to these schools!
There has been a lot in the news recently about the cold and snow, and how late flowering is this year. Did you know it was the coldest March in the UK in over 50 years? And guess what? March was colder than the winter months of December, January and February! No wonder some of our flowers are late to open this year.
See BBC News or Met Office News for more information on these cold weather stories.
In March The Guardian reported that plants are late to bud and flower this year, especially in Scotland, and that hibernating animals like bats, frogs and lizards woke up then went back into hibernation because it was too cold!
Unfortunately, cold weather can lead to an increase in local air pollution. This is because we generate more pollution by using more heating, but also because when the air is cold and still, pollution particles build up in the atmosphere rather than evaporating or being blown away.
Many thanks
Prof P
Easter in the Tŷ Gwyrdd - Corkboards and tomato seeds.
Another busy Easter fortnight has been and gone, one which saw over 4000 people visit the Tŷ Gwyrdd at St Fagans. Between the 25th of March and the 4th of April we ran a range of workshops from upcycling corkboards to planting tomoato seeds via an April Fools day quiz.
One of our workshops, Grow Now, Eat Later, was designed as a way to encourage visitors to think about growing their own food. There was a chance for families to plant a few tomato seeds to take home with them. Hopefully, over the coming months, with the right kind of nurturing, these seeds will grow into healthy tomato plants and will eventually produce a crop of delicious tomatoes. I’ll let you know how my own attempts fare!
For 2 days we were joined by Wood for the Trees Wales who held an Up-Cycling Workshop in the Tŷ Gwyrdd. This involved creating notice boards from old picture frames and cork tiles. This was an extremely popular activity with all who visited, in fact we used up every single picture frame and every scrap of cork tile! If you are interested in similar workshops, visit Wood for the Trees Wales’ Facebook page for more info!
As Easter Monday fell on April the 1st, we thought it was only right to hold an event for April Fools day. We created an quiz around the house so that visitors could test themselves to find out if they were Eco Cool or indeed an April Fool. Luckily it turned out most of our visitors were indeed Eco Cool… with only a few exceptions. After completing the quiz there was a chance to make badge to show off your eco credentials to friends and family.
As part of the Making History Project, the use of the Tŷ Gwyrdd will be changing. As the main visitor entrance is being upgraded, the Tŷ Gwyrdd will form part of a temporary entrance to St Fagans.
Over the years, we’ve had a fantastic time running numerous workshops in the Tŷ Gwyrdd and meeting literally thousands of wonderful poeple. Thanks to the many, many people who have helped us achieve this. Rest assured, lots of our workshops will continue, albeit in different locations throughout St Fagans Museum. Watch this space!
Linking Museum Collections
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There more than 100 natural history collections across Wales, containing a fantastic record of Welsh (and international) fauna, flora and geology. Many of these collections go back to the early 19th century. They are an irreplaceable resource for public exhibitions, teaching and scientific research. These collections include some real jewels, such as a King Penguin from the Shackleton expedition to Antarctica more than 100 years ago, an early Neolithic bone flute, and a 19th century turnspit dog (stuffed).
One of the best ways scientists and researchers can gather information about the importance of our environment is through studying museum collections. For example, biological specimens are used to study changes in biodiversity over time, and geological specimens can help us understand climate change. Preserving these collections is an absolute necessity. If a 200-year-old collection can tell us something about how to save the environment tomorrow, it has to be worth preserving.
Unfortunately, many natural science collections across Wales are at real risk of deterioration. The only subject specialists in Wales work at Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales. This means that many museums do not have the knowhow to interpret their collections to their full potential, some collections are neglected and museum visitors do not get to see everything they possibly could.
A new project is now trying to address this issue. The Linking Natural Science Collections project will review a large part of the Welsh natural history collections and combine them – at least in the virtual reality of the internet – by bringing together collections records in an online database. This means that all the individual collections across Wales can then be treated as pieces of one large natural science collection. These collections will therefore form part of a Distributed National Collection – a concept from the Welsh government’s Museum Strategy.
The project will conclude after three years with a touring exhibition of spectacular or significant natural science objects from across Wales. There will also be many other benefits, for example training for curators who will then be able to better understand and use their collections, and to share their knowledge with museum visitors and users.
If you have a natural sciences collection or are interested in knowing more about this project please get in touch with the project manager, who is based at Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales (christian.baars@museumwales.ac.uk).
You can also follow the project on Facebook: facebook.com/LinkingCollectionsWales.
Find out more about the Museums Strategy for Wales 2010-1015.
Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales: www.museumwales.ac.uk.
© the National Museum of Wales
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Peregrines on the Clock Tower 2013
Natural science collections in Welsh museums – a Distributed National Collection
Professor Plant’s Promise: Late flowers won’t get left behind
