Forest bounties

The best way to relax in September is definitely in the forest — your basket will not remain empty as there are plenty of mushrooms and berries there. Here are a few suggestions on where in Belarus you can enjoy the quiet hunt.

Mushroom season in Belarus                    belta

Near Stolbtsy  

The national poet of Belarus, Yakub Kolas, was known as an avid mushroom picker. He even jokingly referred to himself as a ‘minister of mushroom farming’. There was good reason for this: the writer’s personal record was five hundred porcini mushrooms picked in a single day! Yakub Kolas was captivated not only by the gathering process but by everything else involved — from sorting to cooking. Memoirs remain of how he would, upon returning from the forest, separate young mushrooms from old ones, suitable for drying. By the way, many of the poet’s friends and colleagues received a bag of dried mushrooms as a gift by post. He was a generous soul!  
Where did Kolas gather his record forest bounties? It was in the vicinity of Talki in Pukhovichi District, and at the Naroch, where his friends invited him to relax. Furthermore, the poet’s homeland — Stolbtsy District — is regarded as one of the most mushroom-rich areas in the country. Strolling through the forest there, one has a great chance not only to fill a basket with porcini mushrooms, brown birch bolete mushrooms, and butter mushrooms but also to visit all four branches of the Yakub Kolas Museum.

Going on a quiet hunt with the whole family            Aleksey Stolyarov

In Logoisk District

A bucket of porcini mushrooms, two orange-cap boletus mushrooms, chanterelles — these are the forest bounties that Belarusians eagerly showed off on social media back in June. There are plenty of mushroom spots across the country. However, according to mycologists, the massif between Logoisk, Zembin, and Pleshchenitsy is considered to be one of the best areas abundant in mushrooms. 
They say you can find all mushrooms at the same time there. In addition to common mushrooms, there are also chanterelles, butter mushrooms, honey mushrooms, russules, and more. Moreover, the place is conveniently accessible — just a dozen kilometres away from the capital. 

Autumn harvests are delightful

By Osipovichi reservoir

In mid-September, fans of eco-friendly recreation and author songs gather in the vicinity of the Berezka recreation centre. This year, it has already been the third time that the themed festival Quiet Hunt has taken place. The organisers provided not only plenty of music but also a large mushroom competition, where mushroom enthusiasts competed in their skills and luck. The judge was a mycologist and author of books on mushrooms, Aleksandr Moroz. After the championship, a masterclass delivered by the professional took place. For the bravest participants, an active entertainment option was prepared — a forest extreme trail with crossings over swamps, a river crossing via a suspension bridge, as well as mushroom picking.

Dishes made of forest gifts are a particular pride of Belarusian national cuisine                    belta

At Olmany swamps  

The largest complex of raised, transitional, and lowland bogs in Europe has been preserved in its pristine form to this day in the south of Belarus near the village of Olmany. Cranberries for the locals are not just a tasty and healthy berry, but also a means of good income. The ‘red gold’ is always in demand, especially the wild-growing variety. There are no restrictions on the quantity or weight of the berries picked: they are all yours.  
However, people come to Olmany not only to work but also for entertainment. The marshes are home to 687 species of plants, 151 species of birds, and 26 species of mammals. The eco-trail, stretching 1.5 kilometres, invites visitors to take a stroll, at the end of which travellers are greeted by a stunning surprise — Lake Bolshoye Zasominoye. There, one can see the fresh-water turtle, the lesser spotted eagle, the black stork, and other rare species included in the Red Data Book. When heading to the marshes, it is important to remember to have your passport with you.

Yelnya Landscape Reserve is more than nine thousand years old             belta

In Yelnya marshes  

One hundred and eighteen picturesque lakes, thousands of cranes, and endless marshes carpeted with a red blanket of cranberries — this is something everyone should see. The largest raised bog is located in Vitebsk Region. The peak tourist season is September. Visitors come to enjoy the magnificent views, wander around the soft springy ground, capture incredible shots of cranes flying south, and stock up on berries for the winter. Cranberries in Yelnya are usually large and juicy, tempting to taste.  
By the way, it is these berries that are used for the production of one of the most popular gastronomic souvenirs in Belarus — cranberries in powdered sugar.

Cranberries can be picked even in winter                Natalya Tyshkevich

IMPORTANT

Wild fruits can be collected almost everywhere, except in forest areas where there are restrictions on such activities — it is forbidden in the Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Berries can be picked by hand or with the help of special tools, with the prongs at least fifty millimetres apart. As for mushroom picking, the main rule is not to disturb the forest floor.

By Sofia Arsenyeva