Monthly Gallery Tours

Curator of MERL Collections, Dr Ollie Douglas, will be joined by a different specialist for each of these monthly tours. Together they will take visitors on a short conversational guided trip through the galleries approaching our collection from a different perspective that reflects the guest speaker’s expertise, ensuring you’ll learn something new every time.

Each tour will last about 45 minutes and will culminate in a pop-up display or an opportunity to peek behind the scenes. At the end of the session there’ll be a chance to ask questions and to chat with Ollie and his guest.

January tour

For this month’s tour, Ollie will be joined by farmer James Norman. They’ll be discussing the wealth of knowledge James has accrued since 1991, when he began farming organically, including during his 26 years as a tenant on a local estate. They’ll explore how farming fits with his other roles, as a Green Party councillor, a member of the Chilterns Conservation Board, and a manager of ancient woodlands. A former Agriculture Correspondent for Private Eye, James admits to having opinions on almost everything, from pasture-fed livestock to global land use. So come ready for a fascinating and lively ‘farm walk’ through our displays.