October Half Term: Mighty Mushrooms

Why are some mushrooms delicious but others deadly? What is a jelly ear fungus? And can mushrooms really talk to trees?

It’s time to dig into the spore-tacular world of fungi! From ancient remedies to modern medicine, mushrooms have helped people stay healthy for thousands of years. But which mushrooms can heal, and which ones harm?

Designed for children and their curious grown-ups, get ready to explore, create, and investigate in a packed programme of hands-on activities all included in your museum ticket.

Thackray Boffins Show: Funky Fungi
Daily | 11.30am & 1.30pm
Wander into the Apothecarist’s shop where the supernatural blends with the superstitious. Learn about magical concoctions and remedies cooked up by our resident Apothecarist and discover the power of nature in this multi-sensory show.
Expect folklore tales, strange recipes and cap-tivating cures – from wobbly fungi treating ear ailments to lung-like lichens easing our breath.

The Truffle Shuffle Trail
Daily | 10am–4pm
Mush-vroom around the museum in search of seasonal woodland treasures. Follow the trail, choose what to forage at each stop, and uncover fascinating facts about mushrooms. Complete your trug by stamping, stencilling or rubbing in your bountiful autumn harvest!

Craft: Spore Stamping
Daily | 10am–4pm
Create your own woodland-inspired artwork using real mushrooms. Experiment with colourful ink pads to print beautiful fungi and take home your own foraged masterpiece.

For our younger visitors:

Baby Bellas’ Story Time
Daily | 10.30am | Under 5s
A gentler version of the Boffins shows, specially created for little sprouts, under 5.
Join us for an autumnal adventure into the forest. Through storytelling, sensory play, songs and rhymes, discover how the shape and colour of ingredients reveal their healing powers.

Under-5s Explorer Bag: Foraging Friends
Daily | 10am–4pm | Under 5s
Grab your wicker basket, use your foraging wheel and unearth what’s growing around the museum.
Finish in the Disease Den, transformed into a magical mush-room, with a nature soundscape, cosy cushions and lots of books to explore.

We also have some free interactive artists workshops throughout the holidays – find out more info here:

Mushroom Masterpiece Workshops: Monday 26th & Tuesday 27th October
Wild Woodland Art Workshop: Wednesday 28th October

This programme is inspired by our latest exhibition Where Magic Grows and in partnership with the RHS, the UK’s gardening charity, helping people and plants grow.