Manchester Museum is hoping to install a full Tenontosaurus skeleton, dating back around 110 million years.
The incredible skeleton dates back to the Cretaceous period and has affectionately been named April, after the wife of Barry James, who originally prepared the fossil for display.
April was previously displayed in the landmark museum standing upright – much like a T-Rex.
But research from Earth Sciences students at the University of Manchester has found that she would actually have walked around on all fours.
It means that a huge restoration and installation project is needed to get April the right way up, where she’ll be the focal point of a new dinosaur display at the refurbished museum when it reopens in February 2023.
ADVERTISEMENT
Manchester Museum is asking for public support to raise the £10,000 needed to get April installed in the Dinosaurs and Fossils gallery.
Restoring AprilThe TenontosaurusStan the T-RexWork has begun to restore April at Manchester Museum / Credit: The Manc Group
She’ll join Stan, the museum’s legendary T-Rex mascot, who towers way above the heads of visitors.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Tenontosaurus (pronounced Ten-ON-tuh-sore-us) would reach up to seven metres in length and was a herbivorous dinosaur.
As well as seeing April’s impressive frame, visitors will also be able to come face-to-face with prehistoric giants, get hands-on with objects, and learn more about palaeontology.
The display will also look at the history of British dinosaurs that would have once roamed our homeland, and the story of how they became extinct.
ADVERTISEMENT
The restoration is part of Manchester Museum’s capital development project hello future.
David Gelsthorpe, Curator of Earth Science Collections, says: “April is a Tenontosaurus purchased by Manchester Museum in 1999 and was previously displayed standing upright.
“Over the past few years, we have been working with a team of Earth Sciences students from the University of Manchester to carefully study April’s bones and find out more about her.
“Using their palaeontology skills and computer modelling, their research shows us that she would have moved on all fours.
ADVERTISEMENT
“As well as changing the way the skeleton stands, over 10,000 hours of careful conservation work is required to restore its bones.
“We’re asking for any donations, big or small, to support the project and help bring April back to the museum floor.”
To play your part and contribute to April’s restoration, please visit Support Manchester Museum. Every donation will go towards helping to put April back on display.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
What's On
Gladiators Live Tour to make ‘triumphant’ return to Manchester on UK arena tour
Emily Sergeant
The Gladiators Live Tour will make a triumphant return in 2026.
Following its explosive debut in 2025 and overwhelming fan demand, the Gladiators Live Tour is set to head out on a UK tour later this year, bringing the iconic phenomenon back to arenas nationwide for an electrifying new run of shows, and making a stop off in Manchester, of course.
Audiences will, once again, have the chance to experience the action-packed spectacle featuring the stars of the hit BBC reboot series on an epic scale.
The 2025 live tour thrilled audiences nationwide, selling over 200,000 tickets and proving the arena spectacular is ‘bigger, bolder, and more electrifying’ than ever, and that energy is only set to continue this year when the show returns to Manchester’s popular AO Arena.
GLADIATORS, READY!
Following its epic debut in 2025 the triumphant live show brings the energy to Manchester on 14 & 15 Nov!
This adrenaline-fuelled event sees the legendary Gladiators storm back into the arena to face fearless contenders in a heart-pounding live adaptation of the smash-hit television phenomenon.
Expect iconic fan-favourite events, breathtaking stunts, epic head-to-head battles and the unforgettable Eliminator finale.
Featuring stars from the hit BBC series, audiences are being told to expect a truly immersive, high-octane experience, as arenas are transformed into modern gladiatorial battlegrounds complete with purpose-built sets, spectacular lighting, and cinematic staging.
The Gladiators Live Tour 2026 kicks off in Aberdeen on 10 October, before heading to other major cities like Glasgow, London, and Birmingham, as well as northern locations like Leeds and Newcastle, and of course, Manchester’s AO Arena for two nights on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November.
Tickets officially go on sale this Friday 27 March, with two shows per day available, and you can grab them when they go live here.
Featured Image – Supplied
What's On
An official and completely FREE Manchester Marathon fan zone is returning for 2026
Danny Jones
Yes, last year’s newest and official Manchester Marathon fan zone is returning for 2026, promising more positive pre- and post-race vibes than the first time around.
Here’s hoping for some lovely sunshine to go along with the atmosphere on 19 April.
Set to host the city centre’s runners and spectators for just the second time, Circle Square’s Symphony Park will be home to the 2026 Manc Marathon fan park, complete with independent pop-ups, big screens to watch all the action on, plus plenty more.
Best of all, it’s completely free to enter all day long for participants and those of you cheering your loved ones along, as well as being an ideal all-ages spot for families to relax and enjoy.
Located just moments from the finish line, just outside the University of Manchester along Oxford Road Corridor, you simply follow it down towards the tall Vita Group and Bruntwood SciTech buildings.
Circle Square itself hosts many events and activities all throughout the year, and they couldn’t resist getting back in on the raceday party once again, as more legends are set to take part than ever.
For context, 2025 saw more than 35,000 sign-ups, but this April is expected to see a whopping sold-out crowd exceeding 42,000 – a record number for the annual event.
With that in mind, finding a place to fit all of them and the countless fans who come along to cheer them on from the sidelines is paramount, so it’s a good job the Symphony Park x MCR Marathon fan zone will be open from 9am on the day.
Here are some more scenes from the last edition:
Credit: Jody Hartley (supplied)
Although more are set to be revealed nearer the time, visitors can expect “a lively schedule of entertainment, food and drink pop-ups, family-friendly activities and special offers from our community of independent businesses and brands.”
Set to close around 5pm as the hordes of runners will doubt either head home for a long bath, leg rub or straight to the pub for their victory pints, we can assure you lots of time will be spent on the square.
Daisy Jackson -
21st September 2022 
