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
Very excited to see a double page spread on our Survey results in the latest issue of Fortean Times, too. Perfect Christmas present for the weird and wonderful folks in your life!
Our Christmas issue is now on sale! South Shields Poltergeist at 20; SAS vs Gnomes; Enys Tregarthen's Cornish tales; Europe's Yuletide spectres; Warminster Thing; Fortean TV 1988 Christmas Special; illustrious eunuchs; phantom twanger; Masonic Super Mario + much more
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November 27, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Very excited to see a double page spread on our Survey results in the latest issue of Fortean Times, too. Perfect Christmas present for the weird and wonderful folks in your life!
Want to know how someone becomes a world expert in UFOlogy? Read on: this week we’re introducing @davidwclarke.bsky.social on our website… www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/news/introdu...
November 24, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Want to know how someone becomes a world expert in UFOlogy? Read on: this week we’re introducing @davidwclarke.bsky.social on our website… www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/news/introdu...
‘It’s a natural reaction to how people perceive things to be going, the multiple crises people seeing are unfolding around them.’ Our @davidwclarke.bsky.social speaks to @nowthenmag.bsky.social about the importance of folklore in times like these, plus the National Folklore Survey
November 20, 2025 at 1:37 PM
‘It’s a natural reaction to how people perceive things to be going, the multiple crises people seeing are unfolding around them.’ Our @davidwclarke.bsky.social speaks to @nowthenmag.bsky.social about the importance of folklore in times like these, plus the National Folklore Survey
From Freddy Krueger fan clubs to folklore… meet the inimitable Diane A. Rodgers on our website today: www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/news/introdu...
November 18, 2025 at 9:30 AM
From Freddy Krueger fan clubs to folklore… meet the inimitable Diane A. Rodgers on our website today: www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/news/introdu...
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.
Today on our website, meet Siân Evans @coppersmith.bsky.social, one of few coppersmiths in the country. In working with a heritage craft, Siân is encountering folklore every day. Read more here: www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/news/sin-eva...
Siân Evans (@coppersmith.bsky.social)
coppersmith.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Today on our website, meet Siân Evans @coppersmith.bsky.social, one of few coppersmiths in the country. In working with a heritage craft, Siân is encountering folklore every day. Read more here: www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk/news/sin-eva...
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?
Introducing… Chris Bader! Professor of Sociology at Chapman University in the US, Chris has been instrumental in designing our survey and analysing the results. He’s also about to publish ‘Paranormal Britain’, a closer look at British beliefs. Read more here:
Introducing… Professor Chris Bader — National Folklore Survey for England
In our Introducing… posts, we’ll tell you a little more about the team behind the National Folklore Survey for England. First up is Dr Chris Bader, Professor and Chair of Sociology from Chapman Univer...
www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Introducing… Chris Bader! Professor of Sociology at Chapman University in the US, Chris has been instrumental in designing our survey and analysing the results. He’s also about to publish ‘Paranormal Britain’, a closer look at British beliefs. Read more here:
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.
Reposted by National Folklore Survey for England
We had to go small-scale so carved bell peppers instead (with little tea lights inside).
October 31, 2025 at 2:14 PM
We had to go small-scale so carved bell peppers instead (with little tea lights inside).
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…
Our first tranche of results are getting out there! We’ve just hosted our first press conference, at The Folklore Society and Royal Anthropological Institute in London, letting the world know about our Halloween and spooky-related findings
One in three believe in ghosts - as study shows folklore shapes us
As Halloween approaches, many people will be watching films about ghosts or cutting up sheets for a costume - and research now reveals that one in three believe they really exist.
www.dailymail.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Our first tranche of results are getting out there! We’ve just hosted our first press conference, at The Folklore Society and Royal Anthropological Institute in London, letting the world know about our Halloween and spooky-related findings
Sussex folklore has got a new (read: very old) home in the form of The Mint House. We learnt more from Jo Seaman, project manager for its development. Have a read over on our website…
The Mint House, Home of Sussex Folklore — National Folklore Survey for England
The Friends of The Mint House charity is pulling together to turn this fabulous old building into the Home of Sussex Folklore.
www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk
October 21, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Sussex folklore has got a new (read: very old) home in the form of The Mint House. We learnt more from Jo Seaman, project manager for its development. Have a read over on our website…
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!
Phantometrics: science, criminology and the paranormal comes to @deadinkbookshop.bsky.social this autumn, courtesy of Dr Laura Bui, and we wanted to find out more…
Phantometrics with Laura Bui — National Folklore Survey for England
Phantometrics is a four-part lecture series presented by Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Chartered Psychologist, Dr Laura Bui, this autumn at the Dead Ink bookshop in Liverpool. The series intends ...
www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk
October 15, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Phantometrics: science, criminology and the paranormal comes to @deadinkbookshop.bsky.social this autumn, courtesy of Dr Laura Bui, and we wanted to find out more…
We had a great time in Crediton last week, courtesy of our friends at the @folklorelibrary.bsky.social. Lots of fascinating discussion at our event about local Halloween traditions, too.
NFS on the road — National Folklore Survey for England
In October 2025, we kicked off NFS on the road. First stop - Crediton, mid-Devon.
www.nationalfolkloresurvey.co.uk
October 13, 2025 at 9:14 AM
We had a great time in Crediton last week, courtesy of our friends at the @folklorelibrary.bsky.social. Lots of fascinating discussion at our event about local Halloween traditions, too.
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?
Reposted by National Folklore Survey for England
The @nfsengland.bsky.social crew en route to Exeter to talk about our folklore survey project, by way of the LEGEND OF THE REPLACEMENT BUS SERVICE QUEUE
October 6, 2025 at 2:29 PM
The @nfsengland.bsky.social crew en route to Exeter to talk about our folklore survey project, by way of the LEGEND OF THE REPLACEMENT BUS SERVICE QUEUE
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...