Visitors to flock to National Museum of Rural Life’s Woolly Weekend

A selection of press images can be found here. 

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and free with Museum admission, the event includes a variety of wool-themed activities.  As well as alpacas, families can meet sheep breeds including Valais Blacknose and Dutch Spotted sheep, plus Scottish Blackface and Scottish Mule varieties.

Sheep farming YouTuber, Cammy Wilson aka ‘The Sheep Game’ will give shearing demonstrations, and visitors can also see the processes involved in converting fleece into garments as local craftspeople showcase carding, dyeing, spinning and felting.

There will be the chance to enjoy storytelling sessions featuring songs for all the family to sing, as well as sheep-themed crafts and a Dolly the Sheep trail in the main Museum. Visitors can also learn about Scotland’s rich rural heritage through the fascinating objects showcased in the building’s galleries.

Families can take a short walk up to the attraction’s historic working farm to see how this year’s lambs and calves have grown in their first few weeks.  They can also see the farm’s Ayrshire, Aberdeen Angus and Highland cattle, hens, pigs and Clydesdale horses, explore the Georgian farmhouse and gardens and spot the various animals that feature on the Museum’s Willow Sculpture Trail.

Vicky McLean, General Manager, National Museum of Rural Life, said;

“Our Woolly Weekend is a fun way for families to learn about wool and the traditional skills that have been used for centuries and which remain relevant today. They can see different wool-producing animal breeds as well as the beautiful young lambs at the farm and in our fields and will hopefully leave with a new appreciation of the countryside and of the wonders of wool.  We’re extremely grateful to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for helping us to host this fun-filled, family day.”

Laura Chow, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said:

“Our players have raised over £3.2 million to support National Museums Scotland in preserving, interpreting and making Scotland's rich history, diverse cultures, and its natural world more accessible. It is fantastic that families will enjoy some quality time as they learn, appreciate, and take part in the Woolly Weekend activities at the National Museum of Rural Life.”

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+) £10, Concession* £9, Child (5-15) £7, (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: Over 60s, 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.

Ends

12 May 2023

Further information and images from: Karen Finlay, Artisan PR on 07803 945043 or karen@artisanpr.co.uk