Natural Science Collections at Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery

Return to Home Page

Welcome to

Natural Science Collections

in West Midlands Museums and Botanical Gardens

Birmingham: Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery

Contact: Phil Watson, Head of Collections Management

Tel: 0121 303 4633

email: phil.watson@birmingham.gov.uk

Collections:

Biology - A comprehensive collection of British birds and mammals which includes the Robert Chase collection, some foreign birds, especially from Australia and a small collection of foreign mammals. The Auden collection of mounted birds includes 30 specimens of the Hastings rarities and is hence of considerable historic significance.

A Goshawk from the taxidermy collection

A comprehensive collection of British insects including butterflies, moths, beetles and flies including the Gorham collection of British beetles (on long term loan to the University of Birmingham).

Some Hymenoptera from the insect collection

Some non-British Swallowtail Butterflies from the insect collection

The South collection of macro-lepidoptera contains 17,000 British specimens with collecting details. Foreign land and marine mollusca are well represented, especially by the Archer collection and that of H H Bloomer, presented in 1929. British land shell collections are complete and well documented. Local floras from Warwickshire (Bagnall) and Worcestershire (Humphreys) are good, as is the general British plant collection. An extensive foreign flora is contained in the herbarium formed by Sir Benjamin Stone. Plant groups such as mosses and seaweeds are well represented.

Geology - There is an extensive and nationally important collection of approximately 10,000 minerals and gemstones including rough and cut stones from worldwide localities. Of historic importance and significance is the collection of around 2,000 minerals formed in the 18th century by Matthew Boulton, the industrialist and entrepreneur. The collection contains a comprehensive range of specimens illustrating the geology of the West Midlands. Important specimens from the collections include the Triceratops skull*, complete skeleton of a Giant Irish Elk*, Shipston on Stour, Metrohinchys, fossil crocodile* (*on display at Thinktank).

Part of BM&AG's natural history collection is on loan to Thinktank for the "Natural World" gallery and an associated programme of education and learning has been developed at Thinktank since its opening in September 2001. The Geology collection will be moved to the Lapworth Museum at the University of Birmingham as a renewable long-term loan in 2008. The remainder of the Natural History collections will be moved to the Museum Collections Centre, BM&AG's new storage facility during 2008 and 2009.

Current access arrangements The natural history collections are currently in store at BM&AG or at the Museum Collections Centre. Access is limited, especially to items which are in the process of being packed and moved to new storage. Research requests can only be considered by appointment and with at least 3 months notice.