Mammoth Rider Author Workshop with S J Poyton

When Mammoths Came Back (and What to Do About It)

S J Poyton's debut novel is built on real science — she attended palaeontology digs at the site featured in the BBC's Attenborough and the Mammoth Graveyard, and her book is grounded in the genuine debate around cloning and de-extinction.

The Corinium Museum, which usually has its hands full with Roman Cirencester, is an unexpectedly good setting for a story about bringing extinct creatures back: both deal in the very long view of time.

The hour-long workshop introduces Ash Grimes, the protagonist of Mammoth Rider, and the de-extinct herd she has grown up alongside. Poyton leads the session with interactive storytelling, mammoth facts, and behind-the-book material on the cloning science that underpins the story. Ideal for ages 8 and up, though younger children who can sit for an hour will find plenty to hook them.

The museum's Mammoth Rider family trail also runs through the summer, so there is a full visit's worth of content if you combine both.

Saturday 18 July 2026 · Corinium Museum, Park Street, Cirencester GL7 2BX · 2:00pm–3:00pm