Botanics Exhibition Explores Magic of Mushrooms

Submitted by edg on Sat, 31 Jul '10 9.46am

Mushrooms are on the menu at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. A new exhibition at the John Hope Gateway and events programme explore all aspects of the world of fungi, in particular the relationship between people and fungi.

"From Another Kingdom" (31 July until 21 November) is the first major exhibition in the UK to focus on the shadowy world of fungi. The interactive exhibition reveals the intimate details of fungi and challenges misconceptions about this mysterious species to show how fungi plays a vital link in natural life cycles.

The temporary exhibition space at the Garden’s John Hope Gateway has been transformed into a labyrinth of themed spaces where visitors hear stories about fungal diversity, myths and magic, fungi disease and medicine, and the role fungi play in ecosystems and recycling. The exhibition includes film, sound-scapes, models and interactive exhibits.

Highlights include a forest of super-sized toadstools, glow-in-the-dark mushrooms and a version of Russian roulette involving deadly poisonous fungi. Visitors can follow Alice in Wonderland down the rabbit hole, go back in time to the psychedelic era and take the opportunity to make a medical diagnosis using X-rays.

Ian Edwards, Head of Exhibitions at RBGE commented: “Whether you regard fungi as friends or foe, if you thought they were curious but benign organisms, prepare to have your perceptions changed: From Another Kingdom will show how fungi are essential to all life on the planet!”

To accompany From Another Kingdom – The Amazing World of Fungi, RBGE has published an illustrated book of the same title.

"From Another Kingdom" runs from 31 July until 21 November at the John Hope Gateway in the Royal Botanic Garden and then goes on tour.

Admission to the Garden and John Hope Gateway is free. The audio guide for the exhibition is available for hire (£2.50 adults and £1.50 concessions).