Horniman Museum and Gardens - Upcoming events in January and February

Big Garden Birdwatch Sunday 31 January 11am–3.30pm Join us for activities celebrating the UK's bird life. Take part in our annual birdwatch survey in the Gardens, make a bird feeder and explore our collection of bird taxidermy. See the day’s programme. Free (except for Art Makers activity) Collected and Possessed Until Sunday 24 January A unique exhibition of large scale paintings by artist Mark Fairnington depicting the Horniman’s natural history specimens as they are stored behind the scenes, alongside some of the real specimens themselves. Free This project has been funded through Art Happens, the Art Fund's crowdfunding platform.   Crossing Borders Saturday 6 February 11am–3pm Enjoy family activities including storytelling, theatre, and art and craft, led by local community groups working with refugees and migrants. This event celebrates the diversity of our neighbourhood and the people that live in it. Free. Everyone welcome. February Half Term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February A fun-filled week of fabulous activities inspired by our Dinosaurs: Monster Families exhibition including making your own fossil cast, an action-packed Big Wednesday, art and craft, and much more. See all half term events.   Carnival Late Thursday 25 February 6.30–9.30pm Enjoy carnival with your friends at the Horniman and banish the winter blues! Brush up on your samba moves, join in carnival parades, experience a Venetian ball and funky New Orleans' brass jazz, hear carnival-inspired tales and much more. Food and bars will be open. Tickets: £5. Over-18s only. Book now. News: UK First – Coral IVF at the Horniman In December, our Aquarium team successfully spawned corals transplanted from Australia’s Great Barrier Reef at the Horniman, resulting in a UK first – the successful in-vitro fertilisation of captive corals. This breakthrough will enable us to do further research into coral reproduction and conservation as part of the Horniman’s ground-breaking Project Coral. Watch a video of the coral spawning and find out more about Project Coral. Elsewhere in London GRASS Unicorn Theatre Friday 15 – Sunday 31 January  Explore the ground and all of its wriggling inhabitants in this quirky dance show for ages 4 – 7. Featuring worms, slugs, snails, spontaneous outbreaks of ant dancing – this performance has puppetry and projection to inspire children to discover what’s over and under the grass! Book now