Skip to main content

Patreon

+44 (0)1909 720378

.

Fixing our broken planet

Be part of the Natural History Museum’s Fixing our Broken Planet programme at Creswell Crags.

Work alongside Dr Angharad Jones (curator and palaeontologist) and Dr Theresa Nelson (archaeologist and sustainability expert) to explore more about past environmental challenges during the Ice Age and look towards a sustainable future in this exciting new project. Join us for a series of workshops about ecology, litter through time, mining in the stone age and today, and how we have been shaped by the food we eat since we were hunter-gatherers.

Using the knowledge gained in these workshops you will help us to create a new exhibition with content from the Fixing our Broken Planet exhibition at the Natural History Museum.

This is an exciting opportunity to go behind the scenes at Creswell Crags and delve into our collection store housing over 30,000 pieces from the Ice Age and ecological collections. You will learn from experts in their field about past and present ecology, mining, waste and food; four key areas that have been impacting the planet for thousands of years.

Our impact on the planet is enormous, and we can learn so much from how our ancestors survived in the Ice Age and the changing environments that humans have both experienced and triggered. This exciting project is a chance to discuss this topic and discover what we can learn from the past that might help us to reduce our environmental impact today.

This project is part of the Fixing Our Broken Planet programme in partnership with the Natural History Museum, London.

What you will be doing as part of this project:

Starting in November 2026 and finishing in January 2027 you are invited to 9 workshops, each one lasting approximately 5 hours (but 2 hours for the Introductory workshop).

Workshops in November 2025 and January 2026 will introduce the project, and include choosing content for the temporary exhibition

The workshop in March 2026 will look at how to create an exhibition, and writing some content for the temporary exhibition

Workshops between April 2026 and November 2026 will focus on each of our key themes: ecology; litter through time; mining through the ages; and food and domestication

The workshop in January 2027 will look at how to assess sustainability and ecological impact, give you the chance to assess Creswell Crags’ sustainability. We will sum up the project and create some actions to improve our environmental impact at local, regional and even national and international levels

We would love you to be able to give approximately 47 hours of your time over the whole project, but there is no obligation to attend every workshop

Workshops will take place on a Saturday. You do not have to attend all of the workshops, but it would be great if you can commit to the majority of them.

What you will get out of the project:

The chance to learn more about current environmental problems and what we can all do to help reduce our impact on the world around us and live sustainably.

The opportunity to work with the Curator at Creswell Crags and other experts in their field to discover more about our Ice Age history and the themes of the programme.

The chance to look inside our collection store and become more familiar with the amazing items we have that date back 125,000 years.

The opportunity to co-create an exhibition at Creswell Crags, with content from the Natural History Museum, and learn more about designing and writing interpretation.

You will have the chance to become the founding member of the Crags Youth Panel

What can you do to find out more:

If you’re interested in taking part in the project, please email is at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and you can learn more.

Who is this project aimed at:

The environment is important to all of us, but this project is aimed at people aged 18 to 25 who have an interest in the world around them and the impact of human behaviour. You do not need any previous knowledge about the environment, or the Ice Age; our team will teach you everything you need to know along the way. You just need lots of enthusiasm for taking part!

Exhibition Planning workshop

7th March 2026, 10:00-15:00

What goes into planning an exhibition, including how to plan and exhibition and make it accessible.

Planning and writing some content for our Fixing Our Broken Planet temporary exhibition

Registration Form

Ecology workshop 1

25th April 2026, 10:00-15:00

Past and present ecology at Creswell Crags – past environmental reconstructions, understanding present-day ecology, and the importance of the two for conservation

Introduction to tracking and field signs with ecologist, Daisy Fretwell

Identification of mammals from cave deposits

Registration Form

Litter Through Time workshop 1

9th May 2026, 10:00-15:00

Litter from prehistory to today, and how the impacts of litter have changed through time

Looking at some of the items from the collections

Flint knapping demonstration by Ric Raithby

Registration Form

Mining Through the Ages workshop

4th July 2026, 10:00-15:00

Mining through time (including the financial and societal impacts of local coal mining), ways to reduce mining’s environmental and social impacts, and ways to reduce mining

Creative writing activity with Tyler Turner

Registration Form

Litter Through Time workshop 2

1st August 2026, 10:00-15:00

The impacts of litter today, and ways to reduce/reuse/recycle

Creative activity related to litter

Registration Form

Ecology workshop 2

Likely September 2026, 10:00-15:00

Conservation palaeobiology (using the past to inform today’s conservation efforts), rewilding case studies and rewilding best practice

Mock debate – consider the arguments for and against the reintroduction of lynx to the UK

Registration form: coming soon

Food and Domestication workshop

Likely November 2026, 10:00-15:00

Learning about food consumption from the Palaeolithic to today, domestication, the environmental and social impact of food consumption

Plan a mock temporary exhibition on aurochs/cow domestication with our aurochs skull as the 'star’ object

Registration form: coming soon

Sustainability at Creswell Crags workshop

Likely January 2027, 10:00-15:00

Different ways of assessing sustainability and ecological impact

Assess Creswell Crags’ sustainability and suggest areas for improvement

Reflect on the project, and plan actions to help improve the environment in homes, local areas or even at a national and international levels

Registration form: coming soon