With a newly designed exhibition at the “GRÜNES HAUS” Forest Information Center, visitors will be able to experience the Lenneberg Forest in an even more vivid and interactive way in the future. The revamped exhibition is intended to be a place where knowledge of nature, current research, and direct experiences of nature come together—right in the heart of one of the region’s most significant and, at the same time, particularly sensitive forest habitats.

The Natural History Museum Mainz (nhm) and the Special-Purpose Association for the Preservation of the Lenneberg Forest have resumed their collaboration on the redesign of the exhibition. The nhm is contributing its scientific expertise and many years of experience in the areas of exhibition design and environmental education, and is supporting the project both technically and creatively. In addition, the museum is providing specimens on permanent loan.

“The Lenneberg Forest is an extraordinary natural area in the immediate vicinity of Mainz and serves as a showcase for the biological diversity of our species,” explains Stefan Dorschel, district forester of the Lenneberg Forest. 

“With the new exhibition, we aim to convey general knowledge about the forest while also sparking curiosity and encouraging visitors to discover the Lenneberg Forest as a very special habitat,” summarizes Nicole Fischer, deputy director of the Natural History Museum and project coordinator. 

The collaboration between the nhm and the special-purpose association has a long tradition. The nhm was already involved in setting up the first exhibition at the GRÜNES HAUS in 1992. After more than three decades, this partnership is now being revitalized.

In terms of content, the new exhibition places a different emphasis than its predecessor. While previous exhibitions focused primarily on landscape and cultural history, the new presentation is dedicated in particular to the topics of climate and biodiversity. General knowledge about forests is linked to the unique features of the Lenneberg Forest.

A central element is the large diorama featuring specimens of typical forest inhabitants. A large portion of these objects comes from the Natural History Museum. Visitors can test their own knowledge of species and explore the forest habitat from different perspectives. In addition to well-known animals, the exhibition also showcases unique inhabitants of the Lenneberg Forest—including the garden dormouse, the nightjar, and the hoopoe.

Illustrated information panels and hands-on stations provide expert information about the specimens and make the exhibition accessible to visitors of different ages and knowledge levels. The goal is to create an educational experience that is both scientifically sound and entertaining, encouraging visitors to explore on their own.

THE GREEN HOUSE

THE GREEN HOUSE is an important hub for visitors to the Lenneberg Forest. Numerous events take place each year around the information center. District foresters, rangers, and forest educators use the building as a meeting place for guided tours and educational programs. School classes and kindergartens also visit the grounds on their own.

For the nhm, this partnership is therefore a key component of its educational work. The museum offers around 750 educational events each year and aims to make natural history knowledge accessible to all age groups.

“Environmental education works particularly well where people can experience nature firsthand. The GRÜNES HAUS is an ideal place for this,” says Nicole Fischer. “The exhibition and the nature right outside complement each other. What you learn indoors about species, habitats, and climate change can be directly discovered and observed outdoors.”

The outdoor grounds of the GRÜNES HAUS are also set to be gradually expanded in the coming years. A tree trail, forest adventure trail, barefoot trail, insect hotel, pond, and other stations will be more closely integrated with the exhibition in the future. This will create a cohesive educational program that combines knowledge, nature experiences, and recreation. The educational work will also be supported in the future by a new mascot: Lenny, the garden dormouse, is intended to appeal especially to children and young people as a new, likable figure. 

The garden dormouse is more than just a charming ambassador. The species is classified as threatened nationwide and is also native to the Lenneberg Forest. Lenny thus embodies the central message of the new exhibition: The protection of biodiversity begins with knowledge of the species and their habitats right on our doorstep. 

The opening of the new exhibition at the GRÜNES HAUS will take place on Sunday, August 30, 2026. It marks the 75th anniversary of the Lenneberg Forest Conservation Association. A diverse program of accompanying events complements the exhibition at the GRÜNES HAUS.

On the same day, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., the KinderUni Family Day on the topic of “Networks” will take place around the GRÜNES HAUS.