61st mushroom exhibition

From September 7th to 17th, 2023, the Estonian Natural History Museum will host its 61st mushroom exhibition, featuring approximately 170 species of mushrooms, at least half of which are edible.

"There are exceptionally many mushrooms in our forests this year, but several toxic species resemble good edible mushrooms in appearance. Therefore, the mushroom exhibition is an excellent opportunity to refresh your knowledge before heading into the woods," said Heidi Jõks, the director of the Estonian Natural History Museum. "The interest in our exhibition is much greater than our current building can accommodate. However, whether the long-awaited new building of the Estonian Natural History Museum will begin construction soon depends on the decisions of the government in the coming weeks. If the decision is positive, there is hope that in a few years, we will welcome mushroom enthusiasts in a new and significantly larger museum."

Loore Ehrlich, a biologist at the Estonian Natural History Museum, added that each mushroom exhibition is unique. "Mushroom years are not alike – if last year was an extremely poor mushroom year, and we were happy with every penny bun, this year is completely different. There are plenty of mushrooms in Estonian forests, and we hope to offer visitors both familiar species and exciting discoveries," she said.

During the mushroom exhibition, the Estonian Natural History Museum's consultants are always present to provide information about the characteristics of mushrooms. "Our main message is - if you are not 100 percent sure that it is an edible mushroom, please leave it in the forest. No mouthful is worth that risk," emphasized Loore Ehrlich.

During the exhibition, museum educators conduct various educational programs on mushrooms for both preschool and school children.