New research published by AIM, the Welsh Government, Arts Council England, and NMDC, explores the opportunities and challenges presented by museum land and outdoor spaces. The report includes two industrial museum case studies (Greenfield Heritage Park and Wheal Martyn), as well as a toolkit that allows museums and heritage organisations to start putting the recommendations into practice in their own land management strategies.

Recent challenges to the sector require museums to go beyond artefact preservation and interpretation, and diversify their role Challenges facing the culture and heritage sector have included the Covid 19 Pandemic (during which 90% of museums worldwide were forced to close, changing visitor views and behaviours), and increased financial pressures. As a result, museums and heritage organisations are being encouraged to diversify their strategic goals to be 3-pronged, considering their social, economic and environmental contributions in order to survive.

A review of the evidence suggests that whilst steps are being taken by museums to effectively utilise land and outdoor spaces this is disjointed and often limited to examples from well-resourced organisations. Published examples tend to err towards summarising the outcomes of land management interventions. Detail about the challenges that were faced and the processes followed to achieve these outcomes is more sparse.

To read the report follow this link: https://aim-museums.co.uk/resources/land-and-outdoor-spaces-management/?utm_source=AIM+eNews&utm_campaign=98d1cc3aaa-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_11_20_01_04&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-98d1cc3aaa-551064249

To book a place on the AIM webinar on 22 January 2026 discussing the research follow this link:

Land and outdoor spaces management