Dig in for family fun at the National Museum of Rural Life this half term
Celebrate tattie season this half term at the National Museum of Rural Life. Autumn Explorers will dig into the traditions of the Scottish potato harvest with family friendly activities and spud-tacular storytelling, running from Tuesday 13 to Friday 16 October.
nms.ac.uk/events/autumn-explorers
Press images are available here.
Visitors will discover the Scottish tradition of tattie howking. From the early 1930s until as recently as the 1980s, children would swap the classroom for the fields for a week in October, to help with help the potato harvest. This half term families can dig, scoop and brush, and get their hands dirty at the Mud Kitchen Station to harvest tatties. They can also experiment with electrifying sustainable science to create their own potato batteries, and enjoy s-mashing storytelling.
Visitors can explore the museum to learn more about Scottish rural history. On display is Scotland's largest collection of tractors, combine harvesters and farming machinery, and galleries telling the story of people and land of the past. In the new display, Scotland’s Farming Future, they can meet Morag the sheep, an important cloned predecessor to the world-famous Dolly the sheep.
Outside families can follow themed trails through the spectacular autumnal countryside and visit the historic working farm, home to Ayrshire, Aberdeen Angus and Highland cattle, Tamworth pigs, sheep, hens and Clydesdale horses.
Vicky McLean, General Manager at the National Museum of Rural life, said:
"Tattie Howking was an important part of Scottish rural life for generations and I'm delighted that families can rediscover this marvelously muddy tradition over half term. Autumn is also the perfect time to get on those wellies and raincoats and enjoy the countryside together on the way up to our historic working farm. After all that fun there's hot chocolate and cake in the Shielings Cafe, the perfect seasonal day out!"
Autumn Explorers
Tue 13 - Fri 16 Oct
10:30 - 15:30
National Museum of Rural Life
nms.ac.uk/events/autumn-explorers
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass thanks to the support of Postcode Lottery players.
Notes to editors
1.About the National Museum of Rural Life
National Museum of Rural Live
Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR
The National Museum of Rural Life is open seven days a week from 10am until 5pm.
Tickets can be booked online at nms.ac.uk/rural-life
Annual Pass – pay once, visit all year
Annual Pass prices: Adult (16+) £12.50, Over 65s £11.50, Concession* £10.50, Child (5-15) £9.50, (under 5’s free**).
15% family discount when up to three Child (5-15) tickets alongside up to two Adult or Concession tickets (max 5 tickets total) purchased***
National Museums Scotland members free.
Discounts available for groups of 10 or more.
School visits free; some workshop charges apply.
Concessions: Student, Unemployed, Disabled, Young Scot. Valid ID required
**Additional charge for some events
***Cannot be used with member tickets or any other discount or offer
- About National Museums Scotland
National Museums Scotland is one of the leading museum groups in the UK and Europe and it looks after collections of national and international importance. The organisation provides loans, partnerships, research and training in Scotland and internationally. Our individual museums are the National Museum of Scotland, the National Museum of Flight, the National Museum of Rural Life and the National War Museum. The National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh houses conservation and research facilities as well as collections not currently on display.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland
Instagram: @NationalMuseumsScotland
Bheireadh Oifis nam Meadhanan eadar-theangachadh Gàidhlig den bhrath-naidheachd seachad do bhuidhinn mheadhanan bharantaichte.
Cuiribh fios do dh'Oifis nam Meadhanan airson bruidhinn air cinn-latha freagarrach.