Explorers Family Festival: Juzoor, Roots @ The Natural History Museum

Arab communities have many different deep and lasting relationships with nature, encompassing the land, plants and animals of the South West Asian and North African (SWANA) region and beyond.

Join us at our Family Festival and explore these connections through culture, art, science and community. Explore your relationship with nature through thought-provoking discussions about culture, nature and justice. Then get creative with nature-inspired workshops. Together we’ll share skills and knowledge, empower each other and nurture our relationships with people and the planet for a brighter future.

Tours and creative workshops have limited capacity. Visit our Explorers Desk in Hintze Hall on the day to book activities when you arrive. This event is open to everyone. For activities with limited capacity, we’ll prioritise people from racially marginalised backgrounds, particularly from SWANA communities, along with their friends and family.

Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.  

Storytime

Let Raja Jarrah and Aisha Noble take you on a journey around the world on a magic carpet. Learn about different habitats and tasty plants, then work together to create a garden mural. You can also bring something from home to be part of the artwork.

• Recommended for ages 3–8
• 1pm–2pm, 2.30pm–3.30pm and 4pm–5pm 
• Investigate Centre, Green Zone 
• Limited capacity. Book your spot at the Explorers Desk.

Botanical Tatreez Workshop 

Tatreez comes from the Arabic word for embroidery and is a form of Palestinian cross-stitch. Each village and city have developed their own distinct style of tatreez, with patterns and symbols inspired by the environment. Join Tatreez Collective to learn about the flora and fauna motifs, to stitch your own pattern and to reflect on the rich ecological diversity of Palestine. 

• Recommended for ages 7+
• 2pm–3.30pm, priority for adults
• 4pm–5.30pm, priority for families with children  
• Neil Chalmers Seminar Room, Orange Zone
• Limited capacity. Book your spot at the Explorers Desk.

The Nature of Henna

The henna plant is native to the SWANA region. It’s been used to make a skin dye for approximately 40,000 years across many cultures. Join Maha Shami and Hania Tayara to conduct a chemistry experiment on dyes, learn about how the natural world inspires henna artwork and make your own patterns for application.

• Recommended for ages 10+
• Drop-in, from 12.30pm–4:30pm 
• The Centre for UK Nature, Darwin Centre, Orange Zone

Multicultural Science: Yesterday and Today

Join researchers Hanouf Al-Alawi and John Hunnex in this interactive conversation about Islamic Arabic Science and their living legacy today. Hear about their investigation on the fascinating museum herbal manuscript, named Juliana Codex, which has the scientific legacy of Arabic and Greek cultures. Use this to reflect on your personal and cultural connections to nature, by engaging with the Hans Sloane Herbarium collected from the Levant region.

• The workshop will be in Arabic and English
• Recommended for ages 10+
• 2pm–3pm and 3.30pm–4.30pm
• Flett Foyer, Red Zone
• Limited capacity. Book your spot at the Explorers Desk.

Behind the Scenes: Tank Room Tour 

Explore our amazing spirit collection on this tour led by Fadumo Mohamed. We have thousands of specimens preserved in spirit, marvel at these and meet Archie our giant squid as you tour our tank room.

• Recommended for ages 10+ 
• 12noon–12.45pm, 2pm–2.45pm and 4pm–4.45pm   
• Explorers Desk, Hintze Hall 
• Limited capacity. Book your space at the Explorers Desk.

Nature Journalling  

Come and join in on the wonders of exploring and observing the natural world. In this self-led activity, Lora Aziz will introduce you to Malva sylvestris, a plant found everywhere in the SWANA region, and you’ll see how nature journalling combines creative methods and scientific tools. This will inspire you to find your own way to express your observations. Find out how nature journalling can not only become a sanctuary for reflection and creativity but also it can connect you with nature. 

• Suitable for all ages
• Journal building drop-in, 3pm–5.45pm 
• Nature journalling deep dive, 4pm-4.45pm 
• Lasting Impressions Learning Space, Red Zone