On Saturday 28th November 2015 Braintree District Museum
is holding an exciting nature day to mark the anniversary of the birth of local
nature hero John Ray. The day includes a range of talks, workshops and stands,
with something for all ages and for nature novices through to wildlife experts.
We are pleased to be hosting two prominent speakers — Roger Tabor, TV wildlife
and nature presenter, and Dr Roos of Lincoln University - who will be giving us
insights into Ray's life, work and scientific travels. Other highlights include
a wildlife drawing workshop at 11:30am and the chance to meet Alamanda
Therapy's two miniature American horses.
Tickets are £6.50 for adults and £3.50 for children and
can be purchased in advance by calling 01376 328868. Places on each talk and
workshop can also be booked in advance. Full details of the activity programme
are below.
John Ray founded natural history as a scientific,
experiment-based and university-worthy subject in Britain. He rose from humble
beginnings as the son of the village blacksmith to pursue a successful career
at the University of Cambridge, and then an even more successful independent
research career after leaving the university in 1662. He developed the first
scientific definition of a species and used this to produce the first
scientific classification of plants, animals, birds, fish, reptiles and
insects. His three-volume History of Plants included over 15,000 species and
covered much of the known world. His work helped pave the way for Linnaeus'
classification system and Darwin's work on evolution. Ray invented the terms
petal and pollen, and was the first scientist to study and record the complete
life cycle of the butterfly. Discover more at our John Ray day, and don't
forget to explore our John Ray gallery as well. The Museum would like to thank
the John Ray Trust for their support of this event.
Talks
10:30am Introduction to John Ray with Roger Tabor
Learn more about the amazing work of John Ray from a
contemporary naturalist who has been inspired by Ray's work. Roger Tabor is a
television presenter, biologist, naturalist, behaviourist and award-winning
author. He has broadcast on wildlife, plants and animals, but is particularly
known for his groundbreaking BBC series 'Cats'.
11:30am John Ray's European Travels with Francis
Willughby and Martin Lister with Dr Anna Marie Roos
During his continental tour of 1663-66, John Ray went to
Montpellier, where he encountered Martin Lister, a medical student who would
become the first scientific arachnologist (studier of spiders) and conchologist
(studier of mussel shells). Lister's travel diary and student notebook were
rediscovered in the Bodleian Library, and their travels and natural history
observations in the south of France were reconstructed in a British Academy
funded website, mapping stages of their journey from England to Montpellier and
back via Paris and documenting them photographically. This talk discusses how
these images of landscape, natural history specimens, and museums and artifacts
were conceived as a form of humanistic fieldwork, allowing us to reconstruct
the mental world of Ray and Lister. Dr Roos is a Senior Lecturer in the History
of Science and Medicine at the University of Lincoln and a regular public
science speaker on the radio.
1:30pm A Year in the Wildlife of Bocking with Alexander
Bass
This talk looks at the diverse range of wildlife found
over a typical year around a range of habitats in Bocking, including the
Bocking Blackwater local nature reserve, The Fennes Estate and the Pant Valley.
Alexander is a biodiversity and wildlife tutor for the WEA Eastern Region.
2:30pm John Ray's Legacy for the 21" Century with
Malcolm Bryan How scientific discoveries challenge us to take an active part in
protecting the Natural World. Workshops
11:30am —12:30pm Wildlife Illustration Workshop Pen and
Ink workshop with Alexander Bass — Advance booking advised Suitable for all
ages
All day — Drop in nature activities in the John Ray
Gallery
• Have a go at our birdsong and animal sounds test - can
you identify the bird or animal from their call? • Discover insects under the
microscope • Make a seedball for the wild birds in your garden
Drop in Stands
❖ Essex Rock and Mineral Society
Fossil Display ❖ Essex Mammals, including a book signing with Darren
Tansley of 'Mammals of Essex' 2014 ❖ John Ray Trust ❖
Braintree District Council Landscape Services ❖
Braintree and Bocking Public Gardens ❖ Meet some local Guide Dogs for the
Blind ❖ Alamanda Therapy ❖ North Essex Badger Group
www.braintreemuseum.co.uk
info@braintreemuseum.co.uk
Press Enquiries: Jennifer Brown 01376 325 266
@museumbraintree
Braintree District Museum
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