Table of Contents.
1. Editorial
2. Meetings and Conferences
3. People
4. Items of Interest
Reports
5. Report on the Inaugural BGANZ Congress, Geelong 2003
6. Report on Council of Heads of Australian Botanic Gardens Meeting October 2003
Articles
7. Alice Springs Desert Park
8. Dunedin Botanic GardenEditorial
This issue is the 7th for The Botanic Garden and represents the second anniversary edition. During the past 2 years, we have had 6 excellent newsletters, which have been delivered through the Internet to countless recipients, far more than we can actually say, through the magic of forwarding and web access.
The main issue of interest to botanic gardens in Australia and New Zealand since the last edition was the Inaugural BGANZ Congress 2003 held in Geelong in October. This was a highly successful event, attended by over 260 people from all over Australia and New Zealand. Rob Small, Congress Convener, has prepared an article for this edition. The collated Rapporteurs Reports will be circulated in a future edition of the Botanic Garden.
The Council of Heads of Australian Botanic Gardens (CHABG) also met in Geelong on 24 October. Phil Moors, current chair, has prepared a report in this edition outlining the meeting outcomes.
Please read on and enjoy the issue.
Robin Nielsen
Acting Editor
Australian National Botanic Gardens
Meetings and Conferences:
2nd World Botanic Gardens Congress
17-22 April 2004 - Barcelona
The primary goal of the World Congress is to provide a forum for the botanic gardens of the world to consider matters of mutual importance and concern, particularly related to the development and implementation of common policies, programs and shared priorities. In particular, it will review the implementation of the International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation.
The Congress also aims to help quantify the contributions of botanic gardens to the achievement of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2002.
For further information about the Congress, visit the Congress website:
www.bcn.es/medciencies/botanicgardens2004
People
Congratulations to Frank Howarth.
At the end of September a reorganization of the NSW Environment portfolio was announced. Of significance to CHABG is the movement of Frank Howarth from Director and Chief Executive of the Botanic Gardens Trust (the new name for Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney) to a new role as Executive Director of the Policy and Science Division. The Director-General of the Department of Environment and Conservation notes that this area will increase the focus of policy and science capabilities on priority environmental issues. It will include strategic policy and economics, biodiversity and conservation policy, cultural heritage, environmental policy, and NPWS and EPA science expertise in the transitional phase of the restructure of the Department. Frank Howarth’s intelligent and constructive input into CHABG affairs will be greatly missed and he is to be thanked most sincerely for his very significant contribution over many years.Congratulations also to Tim Entwisle, formerly Director Plant Sciences, who has been appointed Acting Executive Director of Botanic Gardens Trust, now part of the new Department.
In mid-July Dr David Given took up the position of Botanical Services Manager for the Christchurch City Council, New Zealand, which includes the position of Curator of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. As well as the Botanic Gardens he also has responsibility for Mona Vale, an inner city Edwardian heritage property regarded as one of the tourism jewels of Christchurch. The Christchurch Botanic Gardens were established in 1863 and occupy 31 ha near the city centre. As such they are the most visited attraction in the city with 1.2 million visitors each year of which over 400,000 are from outside the region. The Gardens have probably New Zealand’s largest and most comprehensive living plant collections overall, and are especially noted for the woodland plantings and conservatory complex. David comes from a background in botanical research, policy development and advocacy, having had a scientific career that included 27 years with DSIR, and more recently a part-time position as an Associate Professor at Lincoln University. He will retain his links with the University’s Isaac Centre for Nature Research. He brings strong conservation linkages to his new position, being the present chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Plant Conservation Program, a member of the Gran Canaria group that developed the CBD Global plant Conservation Strategy, and immediate past Vice-President of the Australian network for Plant Conservation.
Congratulations also to John Schutz whose appointment as Head of Gardens in the Science and Conservation Directorate of the South Australian Department for Environment & Heritage was announced in July. John was successful amongst an international field of applicants. John has made a significant contribution to the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide in a range of positions over the years, most recently as Acting Head of Gardens and prior to that as Manager, Hills Botanic Gardens. John has also been the South Australian representative at CHABG meetings on several occasions. Stephen Forbes, Director, Science & Conservation and Director, Botanic Gardens of Adelaide, Department for Environment and Heritage, South Australia says: "This is a crucial appointment as the Gardens moves forward as a significant cultural and scientific institution relevant to South Australians."
Congratulations to Paul Janssens on his appointment as Curator of Living Collections at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. Paul has worked as a horticulture supervisor at ANBG since July 2002, and before worked in various roles at the Australian Parliament House as a Grounds Supervisor and Horticulturist.
Position wanted!
Tertiary qualified Parks Management professional with over 20 years experience within the NZ Parks industry in Management, Asset Management, Horticulture, Arboriculture, Turf Culture and superb plant knowledge and a true passion for plants and people, NZ National, seeks suitable position with dynamic Botanic Garden, Arboretum or similar organization in the Asia-Pacific region.
For an information pack and CV, please e-mail to:
noahs.ark@ihug.co.nz
Items of Interest
World Heritage Site status for Kew
In the July 2002 issue of The Botanic Garden it was noted that the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew had been chosen as Britain’s nomination for World Heritage Site status. A year later, on 3 July 2003, Kew was officially inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Professor Peter R. Crane, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, expressed his pleasure at Kew’s nomination:
"We are delighted with the successful outcome of our nomination to be inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites. The inscription recognizes the importance of Kew’s uninterrupted contributions to botanical and environmental science since 1759, together with its unique collection of plants from all over the world, and its international influence on the history of landscape and garden design."
For further information about Kew and about World Heritage Site Status, see:
http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/heritage/whs.html
Chairman’s Report on the Inaugural Bganz Congress 2003
The Inaugural Botanic Gardens of Australia and New Zealand Congress was held in Geelong,Victoria from the 24th to the 28th October has been declared an outstanding success. The theme which was "Botanic Gardens Engaging Their Communities" followed four strands; Heritage Planning, Conservation and Science, Community Networking and Horticulture and Arboriculture.
In all 237 delegates attended the event which was structured into 2 days of plenary sessions, one day of workshops and a final day of field trips with an option to travel to the fabulously biodiverse Anglesea Heathlands or the heritage trail of the Victorian Botanic Gardens.The social programmes were similarly varied and interesting with a multicultural welcome at the Mayoral reception in Aboriginal and Maori dimensions, a formal dinner at the hallowed Kardinia Park (home of the Geelong Cats), a BBQ at the Botanic Gardens and an informal bring your own takeaways and sing song on the final night. Something for everyone.
The impressive level of conversation between sessions, at the social functions and in the sessions themselves indicated a high level of energy that augers well for the future of the organization and future conferences which are planned to be held every two years.
An event of this dimension cannot happen without a good deal of assistance behind the scenes. It is an amazing experience to bring an event like this together on an international basis. Particular thanks goes to the organizing Committee, made up of Frank Howarth, Robin Nielsen, Philip Moors, Rob Small, John Arnott, Virginia Berger and Bob Makinson, who organized the streams and determined the programme. The local organizing committee who put all the logistics together was awesome. Here thanks go to the John Arnott, Rosemary Noone, Glenn Small, Rob Small and those wonderful staff and Friends of Geelong Botanic Gardens. Our thanks also must go to the sponsoring bodies, which were CHABG, the Friends of Geelong Botanic Gardens, Friends of Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, and the Friends of the Australian National Botanic Gardens Canberra.The conference is behind us now with a modest profit and lessons to carry forward to the next event in two years time.
Rob Small
Congress Chair
CHABG Meeting, Geelong,
24 October 2003
Report on Council of Heads of Australian Botanic Gardens Meeting October 2003
The members of the Council of Heads of Australian Botanic Gardens (CHABG) were delighted to be meeting again in Geelong a year after they attended the opening of the striking new 21st Century Garden at Geelong Botanic Gardens. We welcomed at the meeting two representatives from New Zealand botanic gardens – Bryan Gould, Manager, Premier Parks, for New Plymouth, and Mike Oates, Manager, Natural and Botanic Areas, for Wellington.
Our meeting on 24 October focused on four items. The first was the BGANZ Congress, organized with great skill and energy by John Arnott, Rob Small and their enthusiastic team, which was due to open that evening. A report of the Congress is provided elsewhere in this Newsletter. It was a thoroughly enjoyable event with many stimulating presentations and discussions. CHABG is most grateful to everybody – including the many volunteers – who ensured that the City of Greater Geelong and Geelong Botanic Gardens successfully hosted their second horticultural conference for 2003.
We discussed the Career Development Grants offered annually by CHABG. The grants for 2003 were intended to assist people from distant or regional gardens to attend the BGANZ Congress. A total of $6,000 was available, but surprisingly we received applications for only half this amount (all were successful!). In recent years we have received few applications – please let Virginia Berger at the CHABG Secretariat know if you have comments about why this has been so. In 2004 we will be offering two grants (maximum $3,000 each), with the goal of supporting staff professional development through working for a short time at another botanic garden, or by enabling a staff exchange between gardens. The call for grant applications will be made in the next issue of the BGANZ Newsletter.
The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) has been an important item at several recent CHABG meetings. The Council has continued to advocate the Strategy’s importance to federal and state conservation agencies, and recently partly funded Dr Kingsley Dixon’s participation in a GSPC technical meeting in Dublin. We are seeking to have a meeting organized in March/April 2004 with Federal, State and relevant NGO conservation agencies, including CHABG, to discuss Australia’s current plant biodiversity programs and results in relation to the proposed GSPC targets. CHABG gardens are also drawing up a list of their own plant biodiversity programs that contribute to meeting outcomes for the 16 targets. New Zealand botanic gardens and the NZ Network for Plant Conservation are supporting initiatives to give the GSPC greater prominence there. More information on the GSPC is available at www.biodiv.org/decisions/
The final item was agreement to proceed with incorporating BGANZ (Botanic Gardens of Australia and New Zealand). As an incorporated association it will continue to be a vehicle for future Congresses, and in time could take on the role of representing and promoting the interests of botanic gardens in Australia and New Zealand.
The next CHABG meeting will be held in Wellington, New Zealand, in late March 2004. It will be hosted by the Wellington Botanic Gardens.
Philip Moors
Chairman
CHABG
AliceSprings Desert Park
Introduction
The Alice Springs Desert Park displays the flora and fauna of central Australia together with interpretation that is holistic, habitat based and story driven. As Australia’s first bio-park, it combines botanic garden, zoo, cultural interpretation centre, natural history museum, research and conservation centre in an integrated public facility for education, enjoyment and relaxation. It was designed to be a significant tourist attraction for the Alice Springs region and to introduce visitors to the rich, diverse and sometimes secret life, as well as the cultural traditions, of central Australia. Since its opening in March 1997 it has attracted between 80,000 and 105,000 visitors each year, the vast majority from interstate and overseas.
Real World Displays and Interpretation
One of the main conservation aims of the Desert Park is to increase appreciation and understanding of the natural environments of central Australia. The Park aims to change the view that the desert is a dead and lifeless place and show the richness of life and the intrinsic value and beauty of the country. Effective interpretation is therefore central to the Park’s design and operation.
To most effectively tell stories of the "real world" outside of its gates, the Park is designed to closely replicate three commonly visited desert habitats - Sand Country, Woodland and Desert Rivers. These three habitats have been recreated at the Park through extensive landscaping and construction works as well as by the careful use of around 400 taxa of plants. The naturally occurring landscape of the site, consisting mostly of woodland with occasional small stony hills and generally dry drainage lines, was easily adapted to some parts of the landscape plan. Other parts of the plan, however, required major development to be realised. Enormous quantities of red sand were trucked in to make sand dunes and much effort was put into creating salt pans, clay pans, desert waterholes and flood outs. Careful selection of plant species, to ensure authentic representations of the associations found in natural desert habitats has been important, and will continue to be as further work is done on elaborating sub-habitats at the Park.
Unlike most botanic gardens, the Desert Park incorporates approximately 120 taxa of desert animals into the habitats to better represent real desert ecosystems. There are two large walk-in and eight smaller aviaries within the habitats that have been naturalistically landscaped to blend in with the surrounding vegetation. A large nocturnal house provides an opportunity to view animals from the sand country and woodland habitats that would otherwise be impossible to see and larger animals such as birds of prey and a dingo are displayed in an outdoor amphitheatre. The Park aims to provide an intimate and natural animal viewing experience for visitors and this is enhanced by having healthy complements of birds and reptiles free ranging at the Park.
The Park’s focus on interpretation of the environment is evidenced by the range of interpretative tools in use. These include professional guides who conduct a variety of presentations throughout the Park every day, a wide range of interpretative signs from simple identification signs through to larger story-telling signs, an audioguide, video presentations and a 20 minute film, Changing Heart, which takes visitors on a cinematic journey through 4.5 billion years of desert evolution.
Integral to presenting and interpreting the "real-world" of the Australian deserts is the interpretation of the role of people in that environment. The stories of both indigenous and non-indigenous people in the Australian deserts are told, and with more than 30,000 years of Aboriginal history in the central Australia, Aboriginal use, management and perspectives on this environment are incorporated in almost all interpretation at the Park. Accuracy, authenticity and appropriateness of this interpretation are essential and the Traditional Owners of the Park and other senior local Aboriginal people are consulted on all developments and interpretation. Arrernte language, the language of Alice Springs, is used throughout the Park including on plant identification signs alongside the usual common and binomial names. Two thirds of the Park guide team are local Aboriginal people and Aboriginal storytellers are central to the Park’s audioguide.
Botany at the Desert Park
The vast majority of the plants used at the Desert Park are of wild origin and have been collected in the local area, or further afield in the southern region of the Northern Territory, mostly by the staff of the Park’s Botany Unit. These collections are supported by vouchers in the Alice Springs Herbarium, and a comprehensive record keeping system tracks them through the nursery, and subsequent re-propagations, to their final in-ground location. GIS technology is used to map most of the plantings and only the massed displays of desert ephemerals, which are a feature of the Park over the cooler months, are not mapped. Enhancement of labeling for significant plants within three or four metres of a pathway is currently underway.
The nursery at the Park propagates and grows around 15,000 plants annually for use in habitat and amenity displays, for wholesale to the local community and to support revegetation activities in the national parks of the region. A seed store is maintained as part of the nursery operations as well.
A team of horticulturists develops and maintains the plantings in the habitat and amenity areas as well as carrying out minor landscape works. This team has also been largely responsible, at great effort, for the removal of exotic and vigorous Buffel Grass from the core precinct over the past eight years. In many ways, landscape maintenance activities at the Park are quite different from those of most other botanic and large public gardens. There are no lawns to mow at the Desert Park, and very little need for tree assessment and remedial surgery. Pest control is minimal and, unless important plants are being totally ravaged past the point of recovery, the presence of pests is considered to be part of the desert biodiversity story. Dead plants are not necessarily removed from habitat displays because such plants are invariably a feature of natural desert landscapes. However, the amenity plant displays in high profile areas at the Park still require a high level of detailing.
Unlike many Botanic Gardens, the Desert Park faces the challenge of integrating its living plant collections with an extensive living animal collection. Maintaining quality horticultural displays in animal enclosures where the plants are eaten, trampled or climbed on can try the patience of the Botany Team. Creating naturalistic displays in the low light environment of the nocturnal house has required much experimentation and the development of new skills in plant preservation and drying.
Since the initial plantings at the Park, plant growth generally has been very good. The River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) seedlings planted into the bare Desert Rivers habitat eight years or so years ago are now approaching ten metres in height and starting to look like a genuine young developing forest. Many of the acacias that are such a significant component of the desert vegetation have also grown quickly (as acacias tend to do everywhere). This is undoubtedly due to the comprehensive irrigation system that is in use. Some plants, such as Desert Oak (Allocasuarina decaisneana) and Waddywood (Acacia peuce), seem to keep growing at their own slow and steady pace, which is probably a bit faster than in their natural habitat because of the extra water they receive.
Besides supporting the taxonomic research at the Alice Springs Herbarium through its field collecting program, the Botany Unit has assisted with research into rehabilitation of mine sites and into the phytochemistry of eremophilas. Investigation of other potential research partnerships, to achieve greater understanding of the plants of central Australia, is underway.
Engaging with the community
While 90% of the visitors to the Park are interstate or international tourists, the Park is an important feature of the Alice Springs community and engages with it in a large number of ways. Through a partnership with the Arrernte Council it provides apprenticeships in horticulture, zoology and guiding for local Aboriginal people. Because of the focus on interpreting Aboriginal cultural traditions and involvement in consultation with Traditional Owners, the Park is well regarded by Aboriginal people. The Park provides a range of environmental education and work experience programs for local schools, and benefits from the support provided by the Friends of the Desert Park. The Park also supports the fauna and flora research and conservation programs of the NT Government and meshes with the needs of industry in the region. A range of horticultural, botanical, zoological, interpretive and cultural advice and assistance is provided to a wide range of local stakeholders.
The Operational Details
The Park is a Northern Territory Government business enterprise and entry is by fee only. It is open every day of the year except for Christmas day from 7.30am to 6.00pm and besides providing unique recreational and educational experiences it offers a range of visitor facilities and special services. The 1.6 km walking track is wheelchair accessible and electric scooters are available for mobility impaired people; disabled toilets are provided; shade and drinking water stops are provided throughout the Park. There is a picnic and barbecue area as well as a cafŽ where snacks and light meals can be obtained and a gift shop forms part of the entry station. Madigans Function Room and other venues at the Park are available for group bookings and special presentations, and personalised guided tours can be provided by prior arrangement.
Does it Work?
The Park’s approach to displaying and interpreting the local environment as an integrated whole presents some operational challenges and is significantly different from most other environmental interpretation and education efforts. It has, however, been a rewarding experience for staff and, judging by visitor comments and surveys, the Park’s holistic, habitat based and story driven approach has been very well received. In addition, the Park is well regarded as an integral part of the local community and has received high acclaim from industry peers, including winning international and national awards.
There is evidence from studies conducted elsewhere that the Desert Park’s approach of presenting and interpreting the desert ecosystems in their entirety is likely to result in more effective environmental education than if it just focused on one component of the story. The Desert Park believes that its holistic approach can make it a powerful force for conservation by changing attitudes towards the Australian deserts and their inhabitants.
You can find out more about the Alice Springs Desert Park by having a look at the website at www.alicespringsdesertpark.com.au For more detailed information you can ring John Nightingale Curator (Botany) on 08-8951 8755 or, to really experience it for yourself, come up and have a look around some time.
John Nightingale and Graham Phelps
Dunedin Botanic Gardens
Dunedin Botanic Garden, New Zealand
With about 100,000 residents, Dunedin is a city with the best of both worlds - a sense of community with city sized assets. One of these is the 28 hectare ratepayer funded Botanic Garden. It is only a 5 minute drive from the city centre and everyone seems to have visited "the gardens". An annual Dunedin City Council survey of residents asks satisfaction with Council facilities and the Botanic Garden always rates highly. This year was no exception with a 98.5% satisfaction level, the highest rating of all Council facilities.
Community Involvement
A cohesive, long term relationship has developed between ratepayers and their botanic garden, characterised by a sense of community pride and ownership. Garden groups run public festivals and events in the garden, such as the annual Rhododendron Day and plant sale. The Friends of the Dunedin Botanic Garden formalise this partnership with the community and contribute to the fostering of the garden and provision of facilities. As a formidable fund- raising body they provide an opportunity for the garden to work through a long list of proposed projects at no cost to the ratepayer.
One of these was the Information Centre/souvenir shop, constructed in 1996 and funded by the Friends. It is entirely staffed and managed 364 days a year by a team of nearly 50 volunteers from the Friends, a mammoth effort. The centre sits near the focal point for many visitors to the Garden, the Duck Pond, where generations of Dunedin citizens have brought their children to feed bread to the ducks. Unfortunately seagulls also love bread but people found the mess the seagulls were depositing, their aggressive behaviour and excessive noise were objectionable.
This problem was not new and despite several unsuccessful strategies to overcome it only recently has a solution has been found. An American visitor to the information centre commented in the visitor book that in her home town a similar problem was solved by asking visitors to feed a steam treated flaked barley instead. The Friends picked up on this advice, initiated a trial in which visitors were provided with packets of steamed, flaked barley and encouraged not to feed bread to ducks.
Seagulls are unable to digest the grain so almost immediately they realised there were no pickings to be had and cleared out in droves. The pond is cleaner and visitors no longer have to put up with the seagulls’ mess and noise. So successful has this been that there are now permanent signs inviting visitors to get their "Free Food" from the information centre.
Apprenticeships
In New Zealand compulsory competitive tendering for local authorities became a statutory requirement around 1989/1990. An unfortunate consequence for parks departments and the wider horticultural industry was the inability of many of the contractors to sustain the traditional apprenticeship training systems. It has been a priority for the last decade for the Dunedin Botanic Garden to find ways to restore the benefits of an apprenticeship training system to the workplace.
Modern apprenticeships have recently been reinstated by the Government and the Dunedin Botanic Garden has taken the opportunity to establish horticultural apprenticeships in the garden. Three apprentices were hired this year and each year their numbers will be added to until there are 10 apprentices, each completing a 3 year contract of work and study. As well as studying theory via the local Otago Polytechnic, and by correspondence with the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, apprentices keep a daily work diary and are given monthly plant identification sessions by Botanic Garden’s staff.
The major advantage of this new scheme is that, in working a 40 hour week alongside garden staff, the apprentices gain a thorough experience of the fundamentals of practical horticulture. The horticulture industry as a whole benefits from having staff available who are competent in both the theoretical and practical fundamentals of horticulture.
Garden with a Past
The Dunedin Botanic Garden, established in 1863, is the oldest in New Zealand and in June this year celebrated its 140th birthday. A member of the Friends, Mr Eric Dunlop was pivotal in celebrating this event by writing an illustrated, hard - cover book chronicling and celebrating the achievements of the Botanic Garden’s last 140 years. The book, The Story of the Dunedin Botanic Garden, New Zealand’s First is available from the Friends’ web site, launched on the 140th birthday, http://www.friendsdbg.co.nz
Two weeks of birthday activities included displays of historic garden tools and of past images of the Botanic Garden as well as daily garden tours led by volunteers from the Friends of the Botanic Garden. Staff dressed in Victorian costume visited neighbouring primary schools, judging a competition of children’s hats that represented 140 years at the Botanic Garden.
A selection of 14 sculptures by established Dunedin artists and art school students was displayed throughout the garden for the fortnight.
They ranged from traditional sandstone sculptures to wind-activated pieces and one made of 2,300 seedling pottles! Members of the public were encouraged to tour the sculptures located throughout the garden, a way of coaxing people to visit unfamiliar areas, and were given an opportunity to vote for their favourite sculpture. The Botanic Garden is public open space and if the community has a use for that space that will not impact on the plants or other users the garden is pleased to facilitate it.
Latest Development
The Dunedin Botanic Garden continues to evolve and grow, with the newest addition being the Southern African Garden, which was opened and gifted to the city on 30 November 2002.
The development of the collection was made possible by a generous donation from two members of the Friends of the Botanic Garden, Richard and Barbara Calvert.
The site chosen for the development is situated on a steep hillside facing north west and is one of the sunniest slopes in the Dunedin Botanic Garden. As a trial an area nearby had been planted with Southern African plants and this had shown that the site was suitable for the development of this garden.
The construction phase saw the placement of approximately 650 tonnes of locally sourced rock to create the seven new borders for the collection. Today the Southern African Plant Collection is thriving with over 2000 plants, planted in four Southern African biome themes – fynbos, forest, karoo and savanna.
The Calverts have since donated another sum towards the Botanic Garden’s next project, a Mediterranean Garden. Concept plans have been drawn up with an estimated value of $180,000 for the garden’s development. The Friends of the Dunedin Botanic Garden have offered to raise the remaining funding necessary to ensure this new development is completed. The proposed site is adjacent to the Southern African Garden and together the two will create what was a missing link on the grassy hillside between the flat Lower Garden and the hilltop Upper Garden.
Plans for the future include the on-going consideration of innovative and interesting ways of developing and presenting the collections to make the garden more accessible to the public. And the garden is off to a good start with consultation already underway on a brochure detailing the accessibility of tracks for visitors in wheelchairs.
For further discussion please contact:
Alan Matchett,
Team Leader Botanic Garden
a.matchett@dcc.govt.nz
EditorialCommittee: Virginia Berger (CHABG), Robin Nielsen (ANBG), Tim Entwisle (BGT Sydney), John Schutz (Adelaide), Bryan Gould (New Plymouth, New Zealand), John Arnott (Geelong).
Submissions to The Botanic Garden
If you have an item of news or article you wish to place in a future edition of The Botanic Garden, please contact the editor on email virginia.berger@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