Lesser bird of paradise
Lesser bird of paradise
Natural Sciences
Wildlife in the garden display
Collection of butterflies
Collection of butterflies

Natural history

Most of the natural history collections arrived into the museum in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.  

The majority were donations which came from local gentry and influential middle classes.  

In the early years, anything and everything was considered suitable and it wasn’t until 1913 when the first professional curator was appointed that collecting became more focused and structured.  

Since the late 1980s the natural history section has not actively added specimens for the collections.  

Apart from agreed policies, various wildlife Acts of Parliament make much collecting from the wild unlawful.