Museums And Archives

Colchester’s Natural History Museum: Wild About Essex

This heritage-led project will revitalise Colchester’s Natural History Museum, fostering exploration of Northeast Essex's habitats and promoting their protection for future generations. Renovations will restore the museum’s medieval fabric and create an environment more suitable for displaying the museum’s impressive natural history collections, reinterpreted for contemporary audiences for the first time in 40 years to showcase Northeast Essex's diverse habitats over millions of years. The space will be transformed to represent the interconnectedness of the natural world, with images and film bringing movement and life into the museum. Real-time species updates will inspire visitors to reflect on what positive actions can be taken to support wildlife. A creative activity programme, developed with and delivered alongside local and regional partners, will contextualise global concepts for visitors, encouraging real-world exploration and action, extending far beyond the walls of the museum. An extension will offer space for activities and amenities, enabling more ambitious programming and future income opportunities.