Dates: Taxidermy Conservation course: 29th September to the 1st of October 2025.
Pinned Insects Conservation course: 2nd to 3rd October 2025.
Venue: the amazing and historic Silk Mill, Whitchurch, Hampshire, RG28 7AL, UK.
Directions and accommodation: See suggestions at the bottom of this page.
Cost:
Taxidermy £300
Pinned insects: £250
Or £500 for the two courses combined.
Grant-aid may be available from your local regional museums service for up to £500. For south-east UK: www.southeastmuseums.org
Course leader: Simon Moore MIScT, FLS, RScI, ACR, Conservator of Natural Sciences. Contact: couteaufin@btinternet.com or 07900 36 8757 (from abroad: 0044 (0)7900 36 8757).
Taxidermy Conservation course: 29th September to the 1st of October 2025. Schedule
Day 1.
10.00 start. Introductions, local logistics, fire-exits, risks, allergies (please advise Simon Moore prior to course), loos and house Health & Safety rules.
Power-point of course outlines, problems &c – this will outline the course, some of the problems you are likely to encounter.
Introduction to projects – the idea is that each student should tackle as wide as possible the different techniques involved rather than just settle on one particular specimen/problem.
Look at pest damage as this is the most usual (pests are shown during the PowerPoint presentation).
How to prevent pest damage – basic Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
Ethics of Conservation vs. Restoration – how far should one go remedially?
Other deteriorative mechanisms – humidity, temperature fluctuation will also be mentioned, along with fading.
How to manage these problems (preventive conservation) and remedy the resultant damage.
Practical sessions begin with selecting suitable specimen for treatment/s.
Tea/coffee break at agreeable time.
c. 13.00 Lunch (1 hour) is not provided and you are advised to make own arrangements, either local shopping or there is a baker / sandwich shop on the corner of the Square (just by the White Hart Hotel) and there are 3 small supermarkets. However, the Silk Mill has its own café (very good) and you can pre-order on arrival. Course refreshments can also be provided but at your own expense from the café but I will provide tea, coffee, milk and bix at the venue.
Afternoon continues with practical work until c. 17.00
Likely projects: cleaning fur and feather. Replacing unsuitable/missing glass eyes. Dressing/rehydrating dried areas of skin and other keratins, including claws, beaks. Treating rusted armatures. Dealing with fat-burnt areas. Dealing with pest-damaged areas.
Transplanting fur swatches. Straightening bent feathers, repairing broken/damaged feathers. Replacing damaged armature parts. Discussion on pest fumigants.
Cases (if available) and you are permitted to bring your own but not too large please!, and please let Simon know beforehand. Opening cases that are sealed with tapes and/or framing beads. Repairing case backs that have shrunk and split. Some specimens may be available for you to keep after each course. If you wish to do this, be prepared for transport them!
Day 2: 09.15 start Practical sessions, continue working in more advanced problems once the student has required the basic knowledge and skills. Try some needle felting for repairing / restoring bald patches of fur. Fur transplanting – useful to recycle and restore bald areas of fur especially on skin rugs. Uses of Japanese tissue (Gampi) to restore missing areas of skin, claws and beak sheaths; repairing pest-damaged feathers and restoring damaged mammal ears. Painting in of restored and gap-filled areas.
Day 3: 09.15 start Practical sessions continue leading to a gradual completion of each project (you may have several by this time). Replacing case framing beads, suitable lacquer for painted areas. Finishing of practical work and projects, then group photo. Brief verbal assessment of how students have coped with the course (time permitting).
16.30 – 17.00: Packing up & Depart
NOTE: Please bring with you if possible: lab coat, digital/phone camera, small hair-dryer, close-up visor (I usually have one or two for borrowing or sale), dissection instruments (including an old toothbrush) and artist paintbrushes. These will be provided for use but if you can bring some, it will be most helpful. I will also have a few instruments for sale.
** Please note that lunches are not provided and you will have to buy these yourself or bring your own.
Pinned Insects conservation course: 2nd to 3rd October 2025.
Schedule
Day 1. 09.30 start. Self-introductions, local logistics, fire-exits, risks, allergies (please advise Simon Moore prior to course), loos and house Health & Safety rules.
Power-point of course outlines, problems &c – this will outline the course, some of the problems you are likely to encounter.
Introduction to projects – the idea is that each student should tackle as wide as possible the different techniques involved rather than just settle on one particular specimen/problem.
Look at pest damage as this is the most usual (pests are also shown during the PowerPoint presentation but only relating to Entomology Collections).
Other deteriorative mechanisms: humidity – giving rise to mould growth and Verdigris crystal formation, temperature fluctuation will also be mentioned, along with fading. How to manage these problems (preventive conservation) and remedy the resultant damage.
Practical course starts: Selection of specimens. Examination of specimens for conservation – look for pest detritus and identify.
Reparation of bodies – usage of Styrofoam cups, correct adhesive/s.
Gap-filling / consolidation of hollowed out bodies/ body scutes using Japanese tissues. Reparation of wing crease, tears, missing (eaten) strips of wing tissue using recycled wings and Gampi tissue. Understanding the physical properties and use of Gampi tissue. Attachment of detached legs and wings.
Dealing with various fungal moulds.
13.00 - 14.00. Lunch (not provided but use local facilities, shops).
How to make prosthetics for missing appendages (Demonstration and practical). Restorative painting in gap-fills of Gampi tissue and texturing them so that these are less visible (restoration technology for display specimens.)
17.00 end of day one.
Day 2. 09.00 start. Check on previous days’ work, write-up reports, notes. Other and related problems – pin deterioration: rusted or copper-cored giving rise to Verdigris crystals? Removal of crystal and future prevention by removal of specimens from deteriorated pins using controlled heat source.
Introduction to antennal attachment, antennal repair, filling gaps in wings and painting in if restoration required, correct tools reminder.
Tackle new problems not yet worked on, gain as much experience while time (and specimens) allow.
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch (as before).
Finishing of practical work and projects, then group photo. 16.30 – 17.00: Packing up & Depart.
NOTE: Please bring with you if possible: You are advised to bring a lab-coat (if possible), dissection tools and a close-up visor as much of the work is delicate and requires magnification. Cheap but good visors are those made by Rolson and can be found for about £10-£20. This equipment is not essential to bring and some will be provided but I will not have enough for everyone. I will also have one or two visors for sale.
Directions and accommodation for both the courses detailed above:
For directions, see the map below (the Silk Mill is by the river).
For accommodation there are not many hotels except the White Hart which is very central and about 250 metres from the course venue. Otherwise look for B&Bs in the area. Whitchurch has its own rail station from London, Waterloo.
The Silk Mill car park is only available for disabled persons (very small) but you can park at the Gill Nethercott Centre, situated just by the Silk Mill, just south of the small island in the River Test. There is also a central car park in the middle of town (Bell St.)
The nearest airport is Southampton and Heathrow airport is about an hour east by car.
You are permitted to bring your own specimens but liability is entirely yours and please let me know.
