Table of Contents .
Editorial
Learning from each other – the value of networks
Are working days really getting shorter or is it just that we have more to pack into them?? It is a question my team often asks me, and one I ask myself. Demands on our businesses are getting greater, with fiscal constraints at the same time that the demand for our recreational and environmental services is increasing. How do we manage this? It seems to me the answer often lies with looking elsewhere at what others are doing. How many times have we developed a new signage system, or interpretation guide, or collection policy to find another garden had done the same thing a few months previously? With so little time available, we need to be smart about using it. Sometimes that also means investing time now to save time later. Visiting other gardens, attending workshops and conferences are all good ways of finding out information. However, sometimes this can be a little hit and miss.
Our businesses need to work together and learn from each other. We are all in the same business and working in difference locations towards similar goals, whether they be global plant strategies or our own national or regional goals.
The development of Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand has at last provided us all with the opportunity to develop a network in which to work. To know who is doing what and to tell others about what we are doing. Communication through this newsletter is a great start. We need to move on from here and develop systems to communicate with specialists in our own area. In New Zealand for instance, a list server based in Christchurch provides a great forum for staff to post queries that can be answered by other garden staff who subscribe to it. The conference in Geelong in October will provide another unique opportunity for us to meet and discuss our common future. We must not let the opportunity slip.
The garden systems on either side of the Tasman have developed in different ways to suit different needs. In New Zealand, gardens are managed and funded by territorial authorities, unlike the state funding of many Australian gardens. However, on my visits to gardens on both sides of the ditch and discussions with garden staff I am convinced that the issues we face are the same. It is together we can deal with them.
A Maori proverb or whakatauki sums it up:
Nau te rorou, naku te rourou, ka ora ai tatou
With your food basket and my food basket, there will be enough sustenance for all of us
Mike Oates
Manager Natural and Botanic Areas
Wellington City Council
michael.oates@wcc.govt.nz
Meetings and Conferences
Volunteer Guides and Coordinators are reminded of the
NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF VOLUNTEER GUIDES IN BOTANIC GARDENS
29 September to 3 October
Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Perth, WA
More than 100 Guides have already registered for this year’s conference. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet and share a stimulating program with delegates from around Australia and New Zealand.
Starting with the 2003 Wildflower Festival held in the Botanic Garden overlooking Perth and the Swan River, participants will have the opportunity to explore much of the Park’s 400ha of bushland, gardens, parkland and playgrounds. Delegates will also visit bush sites and gardens in the Darling Ranges in a day’s tour.
For details of registration, accommodation within walking distance of Kings Park and Perth CBD, and the opportunity to book special pre and post conference tours to biodiverse areas north and south of Perth, contact:
National Conference of Volunteer Guides 2003
Kings Park and Botanic Garden
West Perth WA 6005
Phone: (08) 9480 3669
Fax: (08) 9480 3658
Internet: www.bgpa.wa.gov.auA joint conference of the
AUSTRALIAN SYSTEMATIC BOTANY SOCIETY and AUSTRALASIAN MYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY with the 7TH BRYOLOGICAL WORKSHOP and ORCHID CONSERVATION FORUM II
will be held at The University of Melbourne, 29 September – 3 October 2003.
This conference celebrates the sesquicentenary of the National Herbarium of Victoria and systematic botany in Australia.
For further information and brochures please contact:
Conference Management
The University of Melbourne
www.conferences.unimelb.edu.au/150years
ph: +61 3 8344 6389
fax: +61 3 8344 6122
email: bhewitt@unimelb.edu.auItems of Interest
Congratulations to Dr Judy West, Director, Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, who was made an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia. The award was "For service to the advancement of botanical science and research, particularly in the field of plant systematics, to science administration and policy development, and to the establishment of Australia’s Virtual Herbarium."
Steve Benham from Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens, New Zealand would appreciate hearing from anyone who has established a Garden/Eco Club for children aged between 8-13 within the boundaries of a botanic garden.
Steve can be contacted at:
steve.benham@arc.govt.nzNew Zealand Plant Conservation Network established
The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network has now been incorporated and a committee appointed, chaired by Mike Oates. The vision of the network is that:
‘no indigenous species of plant will become extinct nor be placed at risk of extinction as a result of human action or indifference, and that the rich, diverse and unique plant life of New Zealand will be recognized, cherished and restored.’
Members of the Network will collaborate to protect and restore New Zealand’s indigenous plant life and their natural habitats and associated species. This will be achieved in various ways such as through:
• dissemination of information about indigenous plant species and communities
• coordination of ex-situ management of threatened plants
• plant conservation training programmes
• undertaking conservation activities to protect threatened plants and communities
It is to be established in part as a contribution towards implementing the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy and the Global Plant Conservation Strategy.
Membership will comprise a range of people, community groups and organizations throughout New Zealand. Reasons for establishing such a network are that:
• Plant conservation practice will be improved.
• There will be increased efficiencies in achieving plant conservation outcomes and overlaps in work will be minimized.
• Increased resources will be generated to focus on plant conservation priorities.
• More information will be freely available to those involved in plant conservation.
An inaugural meeting of the Network is to be held at Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington on Saturday 2nd August 2003.
For further information about the network, membership or the inaugural meeting contact:
Mike Oates (michael.oates@wcc.govt.nz)
John Sawyer (jsawyer@doc.govt.nz)
Tim Park (tpark@qe2nattrust.org.nz)
Articles
Landscape Planning: The Redevelopment of a Kiwi Icon - Otari Wilton’s Bush
Landscape planning, more than any other design discipline requires a vision of how the finished product will look, many years after the plan has been developed. As landscape managers, developing long term landscape plans for our gardens requires:
· An understanding of the vision for the garden, and the need to keep that in mind throughout the process
· A strategic plan identifying key issues and goals for the Garden and its landscape
· Patience. Landscapes mature and develop over time. Your vision for a future landscape may well not bear fruit in your lifetime. Equally you may be managing a landscape now developed by one of your predecessors.
In Wellington we have two outstanding gardens: Wellington Botanic Garden, an historic 25 hectare garden 5 minutes from the downtown Wellington with a landscape dominated by an historic conifer framework, and Otari Wilton’s Bush, a 80 hectare native garden and forest reserve. We owe the legacy of these gardens to people who had a vision and those who subsequently endorsed, and sometimes changed the vision over the ensuing years.
In this article I will focus my attention on Otari Wilton’s Bush, as near as we get in New Zealand to a national botanic garden.
Otari Wiltons Bush
JG McKenzie, Director of Parks and Dr Leonard Cockayne, an eminent ecologist established this unique 80 hectare native garden and forest reserve in 1926. But the original vision for this garden and its protected forest goes back to 1860 and the foresight of Job Wilton, an early European settler in Wellington who set aside 5 hectares of forest when landowners around him were cutting it down. This was the landscape that Cockayne and McKenzie seized upon, and the preservation and management of the forest became one of the four major objectives for Otari Wilton’s Bush. The other objectives were:
· A collection of all NZ species possible in one place
· Examples of various types of vegetation shall be planted, for instance a beech forest, a kauri forest and an Otira Gorge scrub community
· The use of native plants in horticulture shall be shown
Over the years, the Curators of Otari have stuck by the original vision and objectives for Otari and have all made a major contribution in their own way:
· Walter Brockie in the 1950’s with the construction of the Rock Garden, and the development of major new plant collections
· Ray Mole in the 1960’s and 70’s with the opening up of new plant collection areas such as the Fernery and the development of educational program as an integral part of the Otari Wilton’s Bush experience.
In the mid 1990’s WCC reviewed the management plan for Otari Wilton’s Bush and to see if the original vision was still relevant 70 years on. This happened over a two-year period and involved feedback from the public about how they saw Otari Wilton’s Bush and its development over the next 10 to 20 years. The resulting plan endorsed the original vision and objectives whilst proposing that the planting and ongoing management of artificial ecosystems was not practical or relevant today. The plan also recommended that we develop a new landscape plan for the cultivated garden and improve facilities for visitors.
During this time Otari Wilton’s Bush was a prime example of a facility that had an enormous resource that was under-utilised because it was not accessible to visitors. It was used primarily by locals who used the reserve for recreation and by "experts" from around the world who used the reserve because of its collection of plants. In particular:
· the reserve was difficult to find, with few road signs
· The carpark was small and had a myriad of entry points
· The two main collection areas were linked by a route through the major depot area and required visitors to leave the reserve and walk along the road at one point.
· Interpretation was poor with inconsistent signage styles
· The Visitor Centre was difficult to find and was not user friendly.
· Circulation was generally very poor and visitors were not encouraged to explore. Accessibility was poor for many people.
· Some collections were poorly presented with few major "attractions"
The landscape development plan was prepared in 1997. This included an analysis of the main character areas, the key focal points, the path network, the location of functional uses such as visitor and management facilities, and the types of vegetation.
Construction began in 1998. Development included:
· A 75 metre canopy walkway; linking the major collection areas, giving visitor a tree top view of the forest
• Development of an alpine garden complete with tarn and alpine habitat zones
• Upgrading of the Information Centre and associated interpretation
• A much improved infrastructure for visitors from the carpark through fully accessible links between attractions to first class restrooms.
Today, nearly four years after implementation of the landscape plan visitation has increased dramatically and a recent visitor survey showed most visitors were very pleased with the new developments. 30% of those surveyed were making their first trip, showing the reserve is still being discovered by many. The development also provided the catalyst needed for a support group to be established which now provides invaluable assistance for the garden and its development.
However, some challenges remain:
• The reserve is still difficult to find for out of town visitors, with only 1% of visitors from overseas (compared to 30% for the Botanic Garden).
• The Visitor Centre only attracts a small proportion of visitors. It needs more changing displays and more interactive exhibits.
• Interpretation is still not comprehensive across the reserve, with more signage and information leaflets needed.
The major challenges, as for all visitor attractions such as Otari Wilton’s Bush, is to attract visitors who are increasingly faced with a larger and more interactive range of leisure facilities to visit. We need to try and keep one step ahead of the opposition.
The work that we continue to do at Otari Wilton’s Bush is the culmination of nearly 4 years planning but took into account 130 years of history. The decisions made in 1860 have provided the parameters for Otari’s direction today
Design implementation is only the start. The fruits of the planning will not be fully borne for many years until the small trees mature, the forest regrows around the canopy bridge and the vegetable sheep finally look that way in the alpine garden.
Mike Oates
Manager Natural and Botanic Areas
Parks and Gardens Business Unit
Wellington City Council
Wellington, New ZealandBrisbane CHABG Meeting - Report
Wednesday, 26 March 2003
The following topics were covered at the March meeting:
Participating Gardens: It was good to see a representative of each of the Australian States and Territories Botanic Gardens with a warm welcome to Mike Oates, the New Zealand representative, John Arnott, Geelong Botanic Gardens and Ross Greenwood from the Gold Coast as a Queensland Regional Botanic Gardens representative.
BGANZ Newsletter: continues to be well received with a steady increase in requests for distribution and offers of articles. Mike Oates offered to write the July edition editorial. Forward editorial material to: Virginia.Berger@deh.gov.au
Staff Exchange: between Botanic Gardens needs to be bi-lateral. No staff exchanges in the last six months.
Natural Resource Management Standing Committee (NRMSC): CHABG will look for opportunities to put forward items for discussion by NRMSC and the NRM Ministerial Council (NRMMC). Greg Leach from Darwin is the CHABG contact (gregleach@nt.gov.au)
BGANZ Inaugural Congress 2003: John Arnott from Geelong Botanic Gardens, the Congress Host Garden, outlined the arrangements and draft program. The Congress will have 4 streams (see brochure recently distributed through the BGANZ email list). John Arnott confirmed that the City of Greater Geelong would cover the public liability insurance for the BGANZ Inaugural Congress 2003.
CHABG also agreed to provide seed funding for the BGANZ Inaugural Congress 2003.
Career Development Grants: CHABG decided to allocate its 2003-04 grants to be used to assist regional and distant Botanic Gardens staff and associates to attend the BGANZ Inaugural Congress 2003. The total available will be $6,000, with $300 available to successful applicants from NSW, VIC & SA Gardens and $600 to successful applicants from QLD, NT, TAS & WA Botanic Gardens. (Information regarding the grants and how to apply can be found at the end of this Newsletter).
2003 National Conference of Volunteer Guides: CHABG agreed to in-principle support for a request toward funding a keynote speaker for the event.
CHABG Incorporation:
A sub-committee consisting of Frank Howarth, Philip Moors, Robin Nielsen and Virginia Berger will prepare a draft Constitution for the incorporation of BGANZ. This will provide a framework for the ongoing development of both CHABG and BGANZ.
Global Strategy for Plant Conservation:
Julia Playford from Queensland EPA addressed the meeting as the Queensland State representative to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and spoke about the issues and problems connected with addressing GSPC targets. Discussion followed on these issues and the role of CHABG in establishing Australia’s role in GSPC as it involves Botanic Gardens. A CHABG Working Group will continue working to heighten awareness and support for GSPC in Australia.
Reports from Botanic Gardens: Reports were received from participating Botanic Gardens and interesting addresses of retailing in Botanic Gardens were given by a number of participants. Edited versions of the reports are included below.
Ross McKinnon AM
Chair.
CHABG Reports
The following are edited versions of reports presented by CHABG members at the Brisbane meeting in March.
Australian National Botanic Gardens
The main issue facing the gardens has been the need to meet water restrictions and heightened fire safety awareness. The ACT has been on water restrictions since Christmas and faces heightened ones (25% cut) in the next month or so. ANBG horticulturists have had to work hard to modify watering schedules through the summer.
ANBG had its largest visitation levels for many years in 2002, with nearly 400,000 visitors. We also were awarded the Canberra and Region Tourism Award for 2002, in the category of Ecotourism. There was a new Volunteer Guides intake, adding 20 new guides to the roster.
The annual summer concert series, sponsored by the Friends of the Australian National Botanic Garden (Friends), were held again, although 4 concerts in January had to be cancelled due to fire danger, thus reducing the fund raising opportunities. Other popular events included the Friends evening dinner ‘Grazing in the Gardens’ in December 2002.
Construction of a new nursery to be located on the edge of the gardens started on 13 January 2003. It will cost about $4 million and should be completed by the end of the year. The ANBG café was also refurbished and the indoor space extended in October/ November 2002.
Specimen curation and data entry as part of the Australia’s Virtual Herbarium project has been a major focus over the last year, with fourteen additional part time staff employed on the project, working through priority groups such as Eucalypts, Acacias, Grasses and Gymnosperms.
Dr Mark Clements and Dr David Jones continue their work on the taxonomy and phylogeny of the Orchids using morphology and DNA techniques. Their work points to the need for significant nomenclatural changes at the generic level in this family. Dr David Jones received a grant from ABRS to develop an interactive key to the Australian Orchid genera. A technical officer was appointed to assist with this project. Dr Mark Clements obtained support for a post doctoral fellowship to work with him on the co-evolution of orchid species and their associated mycorrhizal fungi.
Dr Christine Cargill continues her work on the hornworts using clonal lines, DNA and ultra morphology with the help of a summer studentship. A new edition of the Key to Tropical Rainforest Trees, Shrubs and Vines was published.
The annual Australian National Herbarium Summer Internship program provided training to enthusiastic tertiary students and invaluable support to research and herbarium curatorial projects.
Botanic Gardens of Adelaide
Site Master Plans are being prepared, during 2003/2004, for both the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens. Major drivers for the two Site Master Plans will be the Strategic Plan for the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and a conservation analysis of the significance of Gardens’ features. Three supplementary studies (Access, Power & Lighting, Waterways) will help inform the preparation of the Master Plan for Adelaide Botanic Garden.
A major policy commitment of the Labor Government in South Australia is to revitalise the city’s parklands. The working party formed to investigate the issue includes the Botanic Gardens, Adelaide City Council and an independent parks and recreation professional. An options paper setting out several management proposals for the Adelaide Parklands has been finalised and presented to the Minister for Environment and Conservation for consideration.
The Botanic Gardens of Adelaide is undergoing a restructure in order to provide an improved focus on communications, conservation and education. The position of Head of Gardens has been created to manage planning and programs for all sites. This position has been advertised and an appointment will be made in June.
The Botanic Gardens of Adelaide is part of the Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH), which has also recently undergone a reorganisation. The Director of the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide, Stephen Forbes, also has the role of Director, Science and Conservation. The Science and Conservation Directorate incorporates all areas with a role in biodiversity conservation education, research and monitoring. It includes the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide, Plant Biodiversity Centre, Biological Survey and Monitoring and Biodiversity Conservation Programs.
Successful School Holiday Programs continue to be held at both Adelaide and Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens and utilise the services of external environmental education contractors and experts such as frog specialist, Professor Mike Tyler. In order to promote a broader emphasis on biodiversity and habitat issues, some sessions have incorporated specialist contractors with insect and animal knowledge and materials.
Extended education programs have been successfully trialed by the Education Officer using environmental education contractors to deliver curriculum-based programs. They differ from current programs in that they provide extended two-hour face-to-face teaching and interpretation in the Botanic Gardens combined with arts and craft activities, which have a strong environmental education focus.
Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney
Recognising Gardens’ Bold Direction: Interpretation Australia’s National Award for Excellence was awarded to the indigenous Cadi Jam Ora display.
Wollemi Pine Update: In Spring last year the Trust hosted a Wollemi Pine Symposium for members of the general public and plant scientists.
Sustainable Horticulture Launch: Towards late 2002, the Trust commenced a 12-month sustainable horticulture trial across all sites.
Fusarium: Trust plant pathology staff recently convened The Ninth International Fusarium Workshop.
BGCI: The Botanic Gardens Conservation International Congress on Education in Botanic Gardens was hosted by the Trust in late September.
Water Management: In November, the Trust adopted voluntary water restrictions as specified by Sydney Water. Well beyond these restrictions, all Trust sites implemented comprehensive water-saving practices, which were reinforced by site interpretation.
Community Greening Update: In October the Trust received funding from the Premier’s Community Solutions Fund to support the continuation of the Community Greening outreach program. The $345,000 will be delivered over a two year period until late 2004.
Major Flower Show Announced for Sydney: In late February, IMG (organisers of the Melbourne Flower Show) announced Sydney in Bloom flower show to be held in The Domain in late September 2003.
New Website: Thanks to generous funding from Friends of the Gardens, a new website design is well underway.
Gardens for our Future exhibition and clinic: Our expert staff was available to the general public in late February for a garden clinic designed to provide simple, practical tips for the home gardener wanting to achieve results without the heavy application of chemicals or intensive watering.
Brisbane Botanic Gardens
Fortunately recent rains have ended the driest January for 160 years. Summer is usually our wet season and this year it came later (almost too late!).
Living Collections/Infrastructure: The Fern House complex was opened in July 2002 and has proved a valuable addition to the educational component of our work (14 000 students are now annually accessing our Lessons in the Gardens programs).
Unfortunately our Wollemi Pine tree was stolen and will not be replaced until after the tree’s commercial release in 2005.
Regional Botanic Gardens: The Brisbane Botanic Gardens have assisted with programs in the following regional Botanic Gardens over the last six months:
• Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens will open on 24.5.2003.
• The Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens has just been allocated $4 million for its development through the Council’s Green Levy.
• Tamborine Mountain Regional Botanic Gardens are completely staffed by volunteers – now has significant collections of cool temperate plants and shortly will welcome a Japanese delegation for a ceremonial avenue planting of flowering Cherry trees.
Strategic Directions: Planning for 2010 – program completed.
Promotions: The Brisbane Botanic Gardens is working towards three major weekend promotions each year including:
• An Open Weekend in July to showcase the work of the Botanic Gardens in the community. This program compliments the weekend, specialist, and horticultural society exhibitions in our Auditorium.
Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
Flying-foxes
The RBG Melbourne’s colony of Grey-headed Flying-foxes, which reached an unprecedented and unsustainable 28,000 bats over the past summer, is the focus of a world-first, three-year relocation trial. The Department of Sustainability and Environment, Zoos Victoria, Parks Victoria and the Royal Botanic Gardens are working in collaboration to disperse flying foxes from RBG Melbourne, and to attract them to a new site. The dispersal program, using a combination of recorded sounds and other deterrents, successfully encouraged all of the flying foxes to move out of RBG Melbourne. Further dispersal efforts are under way to encourage the bats towards the new roost site, which has been made more appealing through the presence of captive flying foxes and a number of visual and acoustic attractants, as well as improvements to the habitat.
Save Water Awards 2003
In recognition of outstanding achievement in water conservation the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne was recently announced winner of The Sustainable Garden (Garden Design/Construction) category of the savewater!™ awards 2003, and a finalist in the Efficiency in Government (Government Agency or Department) category.
National Herbarium of Victoria’s sesquicentennial celebrations
Sunday 26 January 2003, marked the sesquicentennial anniversary of Ferdinand von Mueller’s appointment as Government Botanist and the founding of the National Herbarium of Victoria (NHV), and also marked the beginning of systematic botany within Australia. The NHV’s 150 years of achievement is the focus of celebrations throughout the year, including three joint conferences: the Australian Systematic Botany Society and the Australasian Mycological Society (29 Sept – 3 Oct, 2003), the 7th Australasian Bryophyte Workshop (4-9 October), and the Orchid Conservation Forum II (25-27 September). More details are available on the Royal Botanic Gardens’ website: www.rbg.vic.gov.au.
The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden
Lavender labyrinths, a secret ruin garden, tunnels sculpted from plants and a hidden gorge filled with cascading plants are just some of the amazing variety of weird and wonderful plants and displays to be featured in The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden, which is due to be completed in 2004. Initial plantings are under way, and RBG Melbourne nursery staff is busily preparing an amazing array of plant material. Construction of the Kitchen Garden and the Discovery Shelter commenced in May, and new education programs are being developed in readiness for our first visitors.
Australian Garden
The transformation of a former sand mine into a unique new garden – the Australian Garden – is under way, with landscape works due to commence within the next few months. The full-scale production of approximately 100,000 plants commenced in December 2002, with 215 advanced Melaleuca and Callitris awaiting transplantation into the Australian Garden later this year. An Australian Garden Fundraising Committee has been appointed by the Board of the Royal Botanic Gardens, and recently launched the Australian Garden Appeal.
George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens
Staffing
The departure of Mark Richardson from the Alice Springs Desert Park to take up a position with BGCI was a major loss to the Agency. Mark was the inaugural Curator of Botany in Alice Springs and created the new landscape of the Desert Park. We were very pleased to be able to steal John Nightingale from ANBG as Mark’s replacement and John is settling into his new desert environs.
Master Plan
Clouston Associates won the contract to take over the development of the revised Gardens Masterplan with Tony Cox as the principal consultant. A hydrologic study, visitor flow and thematic plan concepts have been drafted and we anticipate the second round of public consultation with the revised draft will take place in May.
International Cycad Garden
Earthworks, bridges and a viewing platform have been completed on the site of what is to be the International Cycad Collection. The site has been monitored this wet season for drainage and erosion problems. Planting of the site should commence this dry season. A working group of NT Government and non-government people has been formed to plan and manage the development of the Collection. NT Herbarium, GBDBG and a visiting staff member from Australian National Botanic Gardens undertook fieldwork to collect Cycas conferta, Cycas angulata, Cycas orientis and Cycas arnhemica. Darwin Botanic Gardens has agreed to participate with other international Gardens and become a node Garden with the Cycad Specialist Group. Our field collections will be used by Montgomery Botanical Centre as part of this agreement.
New Logo
The restructure severed the Botanic Gardens from the Parks and Wildlife Commission, which effectively outdated our logo. The development of a new logo was taken over by the Commercial staff of the new department as it was considered that a thematic set of logos for four institutions (Territory Wildlife Park, Alice Springs Desert Park, Windows on the Wetlands and George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens) within the department was desirable in order to facilitate joint marketing of the four destinations for tourists.
Curation Survey
We have been required to develop very high –level performance indicators for reporting to Treasury. In an attempt to develop a single indicator that could apply to both the Gardens and the Herbarium we have trialed a relatively simple measure on quality of curation. CHAH developed one some time ago, which is based on a random sample of the collection. This sample is then assessed against a number of criteria. The CHAH methodology was used as the basis for the Living collection sample
Kings Park and Botanic Garden
Major initiatives
New visitation figures developed for Kings Park and Botanic Garden indicate that visitation from 1997 to 2001 increased by 43% or an average of 10.8% per annum. The total number of visitors in 2002 was estimated to be about 5 million and this should rise to approximately 6.27 million in 2005. Cost and demand pressures arising from this level of visitation have been recognised by a commitment from Government for increases in recurrent funding in 2003/04 and 2004/05.
The Mount Eliza Scarp restoration project is well advanced, with over $4m of a total of $5.1m expended for Stage 1, and Government committing a further $2m for Stage 2 in 2003/04 and 2004/05.
The Western Power Parkland, celebrating the link between energy and biodiversity with a focus on Western Australian fossil fauna and flora was opened in October 2002. New facilities including a children’s playground, picnic facilities and a new café were constructed at a cost of $2.4m. Visitation to this precinct in Kings Park and Botanic Garden has tripled since the opening.
The opening of the Lotteries Federation Walkway in Kings Park and Botanic Garden is scheduled for August 2003. The Walkway is over 650m in length and combines an onground and elevated experience through parkland and bushland of the Western Australian Botanic Garden.
A new entrance to the Western Australian Botanic Garden featuring a granite outcrop landscape was opened in September 2002. Planning is well advanced for a new memorial commemorating the Bali tragedy.
CEO, Dr Steve Hopper, elected President of the Australian Systematic Botany Society in 2002.
Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens
New Act - The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens (RTBG) is now guided by the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens Act 2002, which repeals the Botanical Gardens Act 1950. The new Act clarifies the role and responsibilities of the Board and Director, and strengthens the management, conservation and enhancement of the Gardens, including updated regulations and the requirement for a master plan.
Strategic Plan - The RTBG’s Strategic Plan 2003-07 is complete and approved by the Minister for Tourism, Parks and Heritage. The Plan will soon be available on our website www.rtbg.tas.gov.au
Strategic Conservation and Asset Management Plan (SCAMP) - This recently completed plan provides a framework for the long-term care and maintenance of the Gardens assets and cultural heritage. It is the most comprehensive of its type ever undertaken for the RTBG and will be the basis for funding submissions to Government for asset and heritage maintenance.
Willow Court Cultural Landscape Project – New Norfolk Council in Tasmania has engaged the RTBG to prepare a landscape audit and maintenance plan for the 18 hectare Willow Court historic site, which was an Mental Hospital for most of its 170 year life. Some plantings were originally from the RTBG in the mid-1800’s.
Easy Access Path - An easy access path from the Main Gate to the Visitor Centre is complete. The State Government capital funded project cost $280,000 and provides equitable access to 400m of path, seating, lighting and enhanced landscape design of entrance and path verge, and signage. The Friends of the Gardens donated $4,200 for the installation of the six locally made seats.
Natural Heritage Trust "Envirofund" - The Friends of the RTBG received a $20,000 grant to refurbish the Gardens 0.5ha Foreshore along the Derwent River. A Friends volunteer team will remove weeds from a degraded site, protect and enhance remnant vegetation and replant locally indigenous species as a horticultural landscape. An Aboriginal archaeological assessment is also being undertaken due to the significant Aboriginal middens throughout the Foreshore.
BHP Billiton (TEMCO) Grant- A $12,000 grant by BPH Billiton’s Tasmanian Electro-Metalurgical Company has enabled the RTBG to develop a rare and threatened species (RATS) database in partnership with the Dept. Primary Industries Water and Environment, Threatened Species Unit and the University of Tasmania, Dept. of Plant Sciences. The project includes the propagation and planting of local RATS into rehabilitated mine sites in north east Tasmania and aims to use the database as a means of reference for other land managers eventually as a state-wide resource.
Volunteer Program – The RTBG Education Officer has formally taken on the role of Volunteer Coordinator for the RTBG. There are several popular volunteer areas in the Gardens including visitor information services, plant propagation, herbarium, community gardening, Friends Cottage display and guides.
Interpretive Guides - In partnership with Drysdale TAFE, Tasmania, the RTBG has recently provided nationally accredited training for a number of its interpretive guides The group comprising mainly volunteer guides undertook a five-day intensive training program that was the first of its type in Tasmania. Horticulturists are also being trained to enhance their interpretive research and presenting skills.
Antarctic Mid-Winter Festival 2003- The RTBG was a partner to Tasmania’s second Antarctic Tasmania’s Mid Winter Festival with a successful program attracting more than 4,500 visitors to the Gardens during the weeklong program. Activities included Antarctic photographic exhibitions, sub Antarctic flora and Gondwana lectures and culminating with the Huskies Picnic, which included a re-enactment of the Race to the South Pole by Amundsen and Scott with man hauled and husky sled teams.
Tulip Festival of Tasmania – The festival will be hosted at the RTBG on the 20-21 September 2003 one week earlier than the traditional weekend.
Merchandise - New RTBG branded products are now for sale in the Botanical Shop including cast bronze key ring, locally made fudge, pens, pen and letter opener sets and other related items targeting the tourist market.
Community Greening
For many years the Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust has been taking its expertise ‘beyond the garden walls’ and has been serving the broader community by providing innovative educational programs out where the people live. In this way local environmental issues have been addressed and attitudes and behaviours compatible with the sustainable and equitable use of resources have been promoted.
In 1999 the Trust joined forces with the NSW Department of Housing to establish a partnership called ‘Community Greening’. By promoting communal gardening in public housing estates and on nearby community locations, the initiative aims to encourage Housing residents and associated school communities to take ownership of their local environment, connect with plants, learn new skills and interact positively with their fellow citizens.
‘Community Greening’ has gone from strength to strength and, thanks to financial support from the NSW Premiers Department Community Solutions Fund, the Trust now employs two full time education horticulturists on the program. They work with the Department of Housing’s Community Renewal Unit and Regional Coordinators and currently they liaise with 55 community groups to develop or support communal garden projects on public housing estates, on local Council land, in churches or in schools throughout New South Wales.
The most successful community gardens are those initiated by the communities themselves. The ‘Community Greening’ partners and local sponsors then come on board to assist with horticultural training and providing resources. The program has its own dedicated vehicle - covered in logos of the various sponsors who contribute seeds, plants, landscape materials, signage, and water saving devices etc for use by community groups. The Trust also demonstrates its commitment to sustainability by recycling surplus plants and landscaping materials from its three botanic gardens through the program.
While ‘Community Greening’ specifically targets disadvantaged groups associated with public housing it has been extended lately to help people create community gardens who are HIV positive, Aboriginal, Youth in Crisis or who have mental and physical disabilities. One of the biggest challenges for the program is to work out if ‘Community Greening’ contributes significantly to crime reduction and improved social cohesion and public health. It certainly makes all who are associated with it ‘feel good!’
Janelle Hatherly
Community Education Manager
Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney
COUNCIL OF HEADS OF AUSTRALIAN BOTANIC GARDENS
GRANTS TO ATTEND THE INAUGURAL BOTANIC GARDENS OF
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND (BGANZ) CONGRESS
25-28 October, 2003 - Geelong
The Council of Heads of Australian Botanic Gardens (CHABG) will direct the Career Development Grants for 2003-4 towards facilitating participation by regional and distant botanic gardens in the forthcoming Inaugural Botanic Gardens of Australia and New Zealand (BGANZ) Congress to be held in Geelong, 25-28 October 2003.
Value
Varying amounts of subsidy will be made available:
$300 to applicants from NSW, Victorian and SA gardens, and
$600 to those from Qld, NT, WA and Tas.
Eligibility and Conditions
All staff of regional and distant botanic gardens are eligible to apply. In order for the Inaugural Botanic Gardens of Australia and New Zealand (BGANZ) Congress to be inclusive of public gardens across Australia, the grant is intended to support gardens distant from Geelong or with very limited financial resources for attendance at the Inaugural Botanic Gardens of Australia and New Zealand (BGANZ) Congress.
Application
Applications for a CHABG Grant for participation in the Inaugural Botanic Gardens of Australia and New Zealand (BGANZ) Congress should contain:
• A description (maximum 150 words) of how the grant would assist the employing garden.
• A letter of endorsement of the application from the Director of the sponsoring botanic garden.
Selection Criteria
Applications will be judged chiefly on the following criteria:
• Value to the garden that would emanate from attendance at the Inaugural Botanic Gardens of Australia and New Zealand (BGANZ) Congress.
• A demonstrated need for assistance (distance, lack of conference attendance budget, multiple staff from institution attending etc.)
Closing date for Application
Applications must be received no later than C.O.B. Monday 18 August 2003 and should be sent to:
Virginia Berger
CHABG Secretariat
GPO Box 1777
Canberra ACT 2601
Fax: (02) 6250 9599
Email: vberger@deh.gov.au
For more CHABG information contact:
CHABG Secretary,
C/- Australian National Botanic Gardens,
PO Box 1777, Canberra ACT, 2601.
E-mail: bganz-news@anbg.gov.au
Phone: 02-6250 9507
Facsimile: 02-6250 9599
Updated: 25 July, 2003 , Murray Fagg (anbg-info@anbg.gov.au)