National Folklore Survey for England
@nfsengland.bsky.social
UKRI AHRC funded project based at the Centre for Contemporary Legend, Sheffield Hallam University nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk
Love-locks, coin trees and an attraction to the Green Power Ranger - meet the one and only Dr Ceri Houlbrook: www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/news/introdu...
November 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Love-locks, coin trees and an attraction to the Green Power Ranger - meet the one and only Dr Ceri Houlbrook: www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/news/introdu...
Is there a starman waiting in the sky? What do you think? 32.2% of our survey respondents said they believed that all UFO sightings can be explained: they are all natural, human-made, or hoax. Yet 24.5% said they believe at least some UFOs are of extraterrestrial origin.
November 12, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Is there a starman waiting in the sky? What do you think? 32.2% of our survey respondents said they believed that all UFO sightings can be explained: they are all natural, human-made, or hoax. Yet 24.5% said they believe at least some UFOs are of extraterrestrial origin.
It’s the ghostly part of the year… 16% of people in England today say that they have had an extraordinary experience of some kind, including witnessing the presence of a ghost. Fascinatingly, almost one in five of those people have not shared that experience with anyone, not even family or friends.
November 7, 2025 at 9:30 AM
It’s the ghostly part of the year… 16% of people in England today say that they have had an extraordinary experience of some kind, including witnessing the presence of a ghost. Fascinatingly, almost one in five of those people have not shared that experience with anyone, not even family or friends.
In a fight between Bonfire Night and Halloween, who would win? Well, according to our survey, 52% of people in England always or sometimes celebrate Bonfire Night, compared to 46% for Halloween. We were surprised. Are you? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 5, 2025 at 1:49 PM
In a fight between Bonfire Night and Halloween, who would win? Well, according to our survey, 52% of people in England always or sometimes celebrate Bonfire Night, compared to 46% for Halloween. We were surprised. Are you? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Were you one of the 13%? Anecdotally - we have no evidence for this - visiting a farm to choose a pumpkin seems a relatively recent phenomenon and we’re interested to find out more! Have you ever done this? If so, when did you start? We’d love to see your pumpkin picking photographs!
November 5, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Were you one of the 13%? Anecdotally - we have no evidence for this - visiting a farm to choose a pumpkin seems a relatively recent phenomenon and we’re interested to find out more! Have you ever done this? If so, when did you start? We’d love to see your pumpkin picking photographs!
Have you ever experienced that strange feeling that you’ve encountered this moment or event before?
November 4, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Have you ever experienced that strange feeling that you’ve encountered this moment or event before?
We had a feeling the press would love the first findings from our survey - and we’ve been getting some wonderful coverage! Take a look at the press page on our website to see how it’s been reported so far.
November 3, 2025 at 9:06 AM
We had a feeling the press would love the first findings from our survey - and we’ve been getting some wonderful coverage! Take a look at the press page on our website to see how it’s been reported so far.
Did you know that just over a quarter of people in England carve pumpkins at Halloween? 🎃 (Source: our survey!) We want to see yours - send us photos!
October 30, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Did you know that just over a quarter of people in England carve pumpkins at Halloween? 🎃 (Source: our survey!) We want to see yours - send us photos!
The Black British Folk Takeover at @efdss.bsky.social was curated by @angelcakepie2.bsky.social. It sounded right up our street so we asked her to tell us a little more. You can read all about it here: www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/news/the-bla...
October 30, 2025 at 11:30 AM
The Black British Folk Takeover at @efdss.bsky.social was curated by @angelcakepie2.bsky.social. It sounded right up our street so we asked her to tell us a little more. You can read all about it here: www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/news/the-bla...
Fresh from the flurry of releasing our first set of results, today we interviewed Dominic Hardy for our podcast - about which you will hear more. Dominic has been in the UK to promote the book he wrote with his brother, Children of the Wicker Man, and it’s going to be an awesome episode…
October 29, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Fresh from the flurry of releasing our first set of results, today we interviewed Dominic Hardy for our podcast - about which you will hear more. Dominic has been in the UK to promote the book he wrote with his brother, Children of the Wicker Man, and it’s going to be an awesome episode…
Thanks to everyone who came along to our @otsfestival.bsky.social gig last night, where David Clarke found out a little more about Owen Davies and Ceri Houlbrook’s excellent new book, Folklore: a journey through the past and present. If you didn’t make it, you can get a copy in your local bookshop!
October 20, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Thanks to everyone who came along to our @otsfestival.bsky.social gig last night, where David Clarke found out a little more about Owen Davies and Ceri Houlbrook’s excellent new book, Folklore: a journey through the past and present. If you didn’t make it, you can get a copy in your local bookshop!
It’s black pea season - in certain parts of the country. How do you eat them?
October 10, 2025 at 3:51 PM
It’s black pea season - in certain parts of the country. How do you eat them?
VENUE CHANGE! For anyone who is coming to see us this coming Tuesday - or thinking about it - we’re now at The Boniface Centre in Crediton rather than the library. Do get your free place! www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/events/the-n...
October 2, 2025 at 1:28 PM
VENUE CHANGE! For anyone who is coming to see us this coming Tuesday - or thinking about it - we’re now at The Boniface Centre in Crediton rather than the library. Do get your free place! www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/events/the-n...
We won’t eat Richard Bradley AKA Weird Derbyshire - promise! But we did enjoy have a good chat with him about his work for a thing. Keep your eyes (and ears) peeled for more info about said thing.
July 7, 2025 at 3:42 PM
We won’t eat Richard Bradley AKA Weird Derbyshire - promise! But we did enjoy have a good chat with him about his work for a thing. Keep your eyes (and ears) peeled for more info about said thing.
Head to our website to read our latest guest blog. This time we hear from @kupalabrighton.bsky.social to learn how this Ukrainian midsummer festival has got underway in Brighton since refugees began arriving in 2022.
www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/news/kupala-...
www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/news/kupala-...
June 24, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Head to our website to read our latest guest blog. This time we hear from @kupalabrighton.bsky.social to learn how this Ukrainian midsummer festival has got underway in Brighton since refugees began arriving in 2022.
www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/news/kupala-...
www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/news/kupala-...
One of our number is getting ready to dance on top of a hill for solstice. Anyone else up to anything to mark the occasion?
June 21, 2025 at 9:52 AM
One of our number is getting ready to dance on top of a hill for solstice. Anyone else up to anything to mark the occasion?
Today @lallymacbeth.bsky.social’s book, The Lost Folk, is published and, intrigued by its premise, we invited her to write a short piece for our website. You can read it here: www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/news/a-new-n...
June 19, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Today @lallymacbeth.bsky.social’s book, The Lost Folk, is published and, intrigued by its premise, we invited her to write a short piece for our website. You can read it here: www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/news/a-new-n...
A terrible photo as you can’t see all the folks that turned up to hear, but here’s the inimitable @dianearodgers.bsky.social telling us all about Dracula Returns to Derby today. Such a cool project.
May 28, 2025 at 5:07 PM
A terrible photo as you can’t see all the folks that turned up to hear, but here’s the inimitable @dianearodgers.bsky.social telling us all about Dracula Returns to Derby today. Such a cool project.
Several of our project team and members of the Centre for Contemporary Legend have been at the @lincsfolk.bsky.social symposium today, including the keynote speaker, our very own @cerihoulbrook.bsky.social on the Lincoln Imp
April 11, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Several of our project team and members of the Centre for Contemporary Legend have been at the @lincsfolk.bsky.social symposium today, including the keynote speaker, our very own @cerihoulbrook.bsky.social on the Lincoln Imp
And we’re off! Our project partners have descended from across the country (and beyond) to help us critique the first draft of the survey. Many excellent questions to focus thoughts.
March 10, 2025 at 11:37 AM
And we’re off! Our project partners have descended from across the country (and beyond) to help us critique the first draft of the survey. Many excellent questions to focus thoughts.
Look at these beauties! Nothing says a new project like stickers.
February 8, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Look at these beauties! Nothing says a new project like stickers.