OUR   CURRENT   ACTIVITIES

An overview

An overview of our activities

Members can be involved in a variety of activities, many of which occur at least once a month. For example :

.  talks by invited speakers
.  trips to other Gardens
.  walks within the Gardens
.  walks in other areas of the ACT, e.g. Tidbinbilla
.  "behind the scenes" visits within the ANBG
.  our Botanic Art Group (click here for further details of this activity)

The Friends are an active support group for the Gardens, and currently we provide, through volunteering and fund-raising:

• Guided walks within the Gardens (details below)

• Sponsoring of public concerts in the Gardens (details below)

• Plant propagation and sales (details below)

• Photographic Competition for A.C.T. High School and College students
                                  View prizewinners for 2007 and earlier

• Funding for projects within the Gardens. The most recent project was a water feature alongside the Visitor Information Centre, which will be constructed in autumn 2006. Previous projects include an internet information package on Australian fungi, a fogging system for the Rainforest Gully and electric scooters for the use of elderly and disabled visitors.

• Funding special requests by Gardens staff, such as the purchase of rare books for the Gardens Library.
  

The Growing Friends

The Growing Friends is a group involved in plant propagation and sales, and they have meetings each month.  

If you would like to find out more about this group, click here.

 

Summer Concerts

The summer concert season - Summer Sounds -features leading local musicians and is sponsored by the Friends.

Concerts are from 6.00 - 7.30 pm

The concerts usually occur each weekend during January and February, but unfortunately for 2008,
only two weekends in January were organised. (This was a decision of Gardens' management,
which was outside the control of the Friends.)

The relaxed environment and terrific music always attracts large crowds, and members can be involved
in a number of ways, and thoroughly enjoy themselves at the same time !

The two following photographs give a good indication of the happy, relaxed environment we all enjoy
at these events while listening to the great music.

                            The concert on the Eucalypt Lawn - 7th January, 2006   (Photo - Alan Munns)

                               The concert on the Eucalypt Lawn - 12th January, 2008   (Photo - Martin Butterfield who
                                       describes it as "the crowd parted like the Red Sea before the rushing ducks ! "

Guided Walks

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Free guided walks - Volunteer guides conduct free guided walks for visitors at 11.00 a.m. and 2.00 pm daily. An additional 10.00am walk will be offered in January and February 2009. Walks start at the Visitor Information Centre. These walks encourage visitors to see and understand the beauty and clever adaptations of Australia's native flora, as well as the research and effort involved in creating, and maintaining, the Australian National Botanic Gardens.

Booked guided walks for large or small groups can be arranged by booking in advance, at times convenient to the group. They can be tailored to the needs and interests of particular groups and can cater for larger numbers than the regular scheduled walks. Groups of 8 people or more must arrange a booked walk rather than joining a scheduled walk.There is a charge of $4.00 per person for booked walks.To make a booking, phone the Visitor Information Centre on (02) 6250 9540.

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For more information about our Volunteer Guides, and regular free guided walks, contact the Visitor Information Centre (02) 6250 9540.