Dinosaurs set to take over Mansfield Museum

Most people have probably heard of a T Rex and maybe even a Diplodocus. But how about an Ankylosaurus? Or a Therizinosaurus?

A new free exhibition is set to open at Mansfield Museum in time for the school summer holidays that will be a must-see for anyone with children who are mad about all things pre-historic.

Dinosaurs: Weird and Wonderful will feature some of the most unusual, curious, and downright bizarre dinosaurs that ever walked the planet millions of years ago. Some had spikes, horns, and even giant trumpets!

There will be replicas of dinosaur skeletons and skull casts, plus amazing original specimens. Expect life-like reconstructions, stunning artwork and enough facts and stories about the diets and behaviours of these incredible creatures to amaze even the most well-read would-be palaeontologists.

The museum is expecting Dinosaurs: Weird and Wonderful to be a huge hit for school visits with bookable self-led visits available in the autumn, but everyone has a chance to see the exhibition from Saturday 27 July to Saturday 5 October.

The exhibition is being brought to the museum by Bespoke Scientific which specialises in producing outstanding natural history and science exhibitions featuring previously unseen material to produce new and unforgettable visitor experiences.

It has been funded through Mansfield District Council’s status as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) as part of a programme of work to develop its natural history collections and reach wider and more diverse audiences.

Cllr Stuart Richardson, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Growth, said: “This exhibition will definitely have the ‘wow factor’ - and not just for children. Who doesn’t love seeing a full-size dinosaur skeleton!

“We are so delighted and proud to be bringing yet another amazing exhibition for people of all ages to enjoy in Mansfield. We have the funding from Arts Council England to thank for this. Our NPO status has transformed what we have been able to achieve in diversifying our cultural experiences and we greatly value their continued significant contribution to our museum and theatre events.”

There are also extra paid-for dinosaur themed activities being run during the summer.

On Wednesday 7 August, youngsters will be able to join Professor Foss Cecil for a Jurassic Dinosaur Safari when the Prof and his team will teach them everything they need to know to become fully-fledged ‘dino discoverers’ - and how to avoid ending up as a dino dinner.

There will be a chance to do your very own ‘Monster Mosh’ and bop along to a backdrop of dinosaurs at a silent disco on Saturday 17 August.

And each day, from Tuesday 27 August to Saturday 31 August, sculptor Michelle Reader will be leading 90-minute workshops, turning recycled materials into three-dimensional pre-historic creatures. Participants will be able to draw or make their own mini versions and contribute to one big collaborative sculpture which will go on display in the museum.

Visitors will need to book a place on the silent disco, dinosaur safari and sculpture workshops on the museum website at: https://www.mansfield.gov.uk/museum/events.

More dinosaur themed events are in the pipeline aimed at all ages.