This case study documents a range of responses to objects in the natural history galleries visited by young children and adults at Manchester Museum. Results suggest that museum objects can support a connection to nature, which can lead to environmentally friendly behaviours in adulthood. Parental interaction with children is identified as a key characteristic of supporting a connection to nature.
With this in mind, the Nature Discovery gallery was developed at Manchester Museum, along with a handling table, for the under-fives and their families. The practicalities of setting up the handling table and an assessment of the first year of its operation is also discussed.
