Welcome to the Toadstool Trail! A magical outdoor nature trail filled with curious adventuring and playful togetherness that spans the generations.

The Toadstool Trail is all about capturing the magic of nature, about being playful, about being together across generations, and about being outdoors. It’s about encouraging people to find the multitudes of benefits to being outdoors, with the main one being (with the wonderful side effect) that it can make you happy!

The Toadstool Trail stands out due to its blend of art, community engagement, and environmental education. Connecting young children and their families with nature, positively impacting local wildlife and habitats while building a community spirit centred around sustainability.

We would love to tell you ALL the stories, all the creativity and curiousness, all the wonderful playful people (so far) and share all the fun with you…

🍄 Find out more about how it was created here!

🍄 Find out more about the Toadstool Trail at Dundee Botanic Garden here!

🍄 Find out more about the Toadstool Trail at Maxwell Garden here!

🍄 Find out more about the Toadstool Trail x Maxwell Garden x Playful Green Planet (= Playful Green Dundee) here!

I hope you have enjoyed our journey so far and can join us on an adventure soon 💚🌿

(and for a little extra fun… why does nature make us feel so good? I’ll let Grandpa Brumble explain ☺️)

Thanks to: 

The Toadstool Trail has been developed by Toadstool Trail Co-Creators Suzanne Scott (WhimSicAL LusH) and Rod Mountain and supported by partnerships with local 3D computer design artist and recent Abertay University Graduate, Ellie Smith (who turned Suzanne’s illustrations into a 3D model). Huge thanks go to Gerry High and Abertay University for technical assistance (3D printing), Clare Brennan too for making those magical connections. Hope Busak from RSPB Scotland, and Kevin Frediani from the University of Dundee Botanic Garden for all their fabulous support too. Thanks also to Dens Road Primary for having us along to play for a term. 

The permanent Toadstool Trail in Dundee Botanic Garden was funded by the garden (University of Dundee). Additional funding from Changemaker’s Hub micro grant helped fund the Hilltown Park pop up with Dens Rd PS and funding from NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation allowed us to create our second permanent trail in MAXwell Garden, and to develop our education resources. Thank you to you all, we couldn’t do this without you. 

Thanks also to Sheffmed, Alan and Amanda, for creating more 3d printed toadstools for us to use as part of our trails. You are so very generous. We love that they are also made from recycled materials and biodegradable too!

To everyone at Mid-Lin too who have been visiting the botanic gardens with us and helping us look further into intergenerational aspects of the trails.

A huge thank you to WhimSicAL LusH assistant Skye Sutherland and very much part of Team Toadstool for all your help with the Toadstool Extras (education resources) and much much more. Thanks also to Fiona Hynes for your education guidance and encouragement.

To MAXwell Centre and Garden for being the home of the second Toadstool Trail and also our partners as the Dundee Stewards for Playful Green Planet – we are team Playful Green Dundee!