Access policy

The botanical reference collection and vertebrate skeleton reference collection are available for consultation by freelance specialists, academics, and students doing research and/or for the identification of problematic material.  We do not charge a bench fee.  Students wanting to use the collection should present a research proposal and have approval from their supervisor(s).  Access to the collections is made by prior arrangement with the relevant English Heritage staff, and is contingent on staff availability.  Advance organisation also allows us to retrieve material from storage and to ensure users have adequate working space.  Material may be borrowed, but requests for loans will be assessed on an individual basis.  Users of the collection should note that English Heritage staff cannot provide close supervision of the individual projects but are very willing to make the collections accessible.  We also have a number of low power stereomicroscopes which may be used when not required by staff.

Skeleton preparation facilities are housed in a purpose-modified building at Fort Cumberland.  Available equipment includes two induction hobs (electric), an incubator, a degreasing cabinet, freezers and refrigerator.  Specimens are prepared by our contract/consultant technician.  Arrangements may be made with external organisations for skeleton preparation.  We may also prepare specimens in exchange for others required in our collection.