Nature Day at Braintree District Museum
in Honour of John Ray
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 program 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.
Roger Tabor
Television presenter, biologist,
naturalist, behaviourist and awardwinning author.
Come and meet Alamanda Therapy’s two tiny American
Miniature Horses
Alamanda’s animals are used as therapy animals with the sick, needy
and terminally ill. Their menagerie includes a Leonberger dog, 2
miniature horses, 1 larger pony, 1 donkey 2 mini Rex rabbits and 2
Skinny Pigs as well as a VERY special KEETSO cat or 2.
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 21st 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
• Explore our John Ray Gallery activities
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 | [email protected]
Press Enquiries: Jennifer Brown 01376 325 266
@museumbraintree
Braintree District Museum