The Natural History Museum in London is to undergo a major ‘transformation’ that will mark “a step-change” in the institution’s mission to become a “catalyst for change” in response to the climate emergency.
To celebrate the Museum’s 150th anniversary in 2031, a mission is now underway to fundraise £150 million for a transformation project that will witness the restoration of four existing galleries and the re-opening of two galleries – one of which has not been seen by the public since the Second World War.
The scheme to renovate the museum’s celebrated Victorian building and develop a new research and storage facility will build on its aim to turn visitors into “advocates for the planet”, an educational initiative it made public back in 2020.
“Since 2017 when we unveiled Hope the blue whale diving through the heart of the Museum, a symbol of humanity’s power to act for the planet, we’ve been working hard to help people understand the importance of looking after the natural world,” said Museum Director, Dr Doug Gurr.
“In 2020 we declared a planetary emergency and our mission to create advocates for the planet. This step-change from a catalogue of natural history to a catalyst for change will be fully realised as our galleries here in South Kensington are renewed and revitalised, powered by our scientists’ work to find solutions to some of the biggest challenges we face.”
Among the four existing galleries up for renovation will be the world-famous Dinosaur gallery as well as a brand-new space dedicated to connecting the Museum’s youngest visitors to the natural world. Before then, the Natural History Museum plans to open its Fixing Our Broken Planet gallery in 2025 through which it will address environmental challenges while showcasing what visitors can do to protect the planet.
Plans are also underway to reopen the Origins gallery and the Old General Herbarium, which have been closed to the public since 2004 and 1948 respectively. Currently used to house collections, these spaces will be restored to their former glory, complete with their iconic Victorian architecture, and returned to public use to ‘engage and inspire once more’ creating, says the Museum “advocates for the planet for generations to come.”
Throughout the renovation project, more than a third of the Museum’s natural history collection will be moved to a state of the art, science, research, and digitalisation centre at Thames Valley Science Park where it can be ‘better taken care of’ and where data can be more easily shared with scientists all over the world as the search for solutions to problems like climate change, biodiversity loss, and food security continue.
“By moving the collection out of unsuitable, unsustainable storage in South Kensington and into a purpose-built research centre, we are preserving this powerful scientific tool for the next 150 years, while increasing access and collaboration with the science community, and returning gallery space back to its intended use,” says the Museum in a press release.
Natural History Museum at Brand Licensing Europe
Since 2020, the Natural History Museum’s consumer products and licensing division has been on a similar journey to help ‘create advocates for the planet’ by integrating the ethos and mission statement of the Museum into its licensing partnerships.
Within that timeframe, the NHM’s licensing portfolio has often found itself among the shortlisted entrants across various Sustainable Product categories at various licensing industry awards. And this year was no different, having placed among the 2024 Licensing Awards Best Sustainable Licensed Product finalists for its Treasures SS24 Collection in partnership with Dunelm.
The collection brings both design and ethos inspired by the collective mission between both the Museum and the home retailer to reduce environmental impact while encouraging customers to be a part of the journey of sustainable development. The products range takes inspiration from the Museum’s engaging exhibitions and collections while driving home the message of sustainability, the importance of conservation and the protection of the planet’s biodiversity.
The range will be on display at the Products of Change booth (A265) throughout Brand Licensing Europe next week.
Bee inspired for afternoon tea
It’s been a busy month for Natural History Museum which, last week, detailed a new partnership with the Royal Lancaster London, launched a new pollinator-inspired afternoon tea, introducing a selection of sweet and savoury delicacies all influenced by British wildflowers and pollinators as well as the Natural History Museum’s work to protect the natural world.
Aptly named “Blooming British Afternoon Tea”, the concept has been developed to help support a future in which people and pollinator thrive. Royal Lancaster London is, of course, known for its honey bees having been the first hotel in central London to install rooftop bee hives back in 2009.
Travelling from the Museum on a 30-minute nature walk through Hyde Park – following a specially created map – visitors will arrive at the hotel for a Blooming British Afternoon tea. Guests will be seated in the Hyde Café, before tucking into bespoke Camellia’s Tea House teas, a selection of sandwiches, scones, and sweet treats named Daisy & the Bee and the Bee Hive among others.
Sally Beck, general manager at Royal Lancaster London, said: “We’re truly delighted to collaborate with the iconic Natural History Museum on our beautiful new Blooming British Afternoon Tea. Inspired by our shared passion for pollinators, we are excited to be able to offer guests a wonderfully unique and quintessentially British experience through the art of afternoon tea, whilst also highlighting the importance of pollinators.”
Maxine Lister, head of licensing at the Natural History Museum, added: “Celebrating the natural world as part of the collaboration with Royal Lancaster London is a fantastic way to inspire people to become wildlife advocates. Pollinators, like bees, wasps, butterflies and moths provide essential ecosystem services pollinating the plants and flowers around us and ensuring we have rich biodiversity across the UK, and across the world. Here at the Natural History Museum, we are working to research pollinators, learn more about their essential services to our naturalworld and how we can better protect them.
“Not only is this incredible (and delicious) afternoon tea perfect for wildlife enthusiasts, but by supporting our new collaboration, you’re helping continue our work creating a world where both people and planet thrive.”
Royal Lancaster London’s Blooming British Afternoon Tea is available to book here.
