NEWS OF COMING EVENTS

Treehouse - a major new Friends project

The gardens have announced the design for the new Treehouse. This is a Public Art project underwritten by the Friends and will be a family-friendly project in the Melaleuca area of the Gardens, designed by Sydney-based architecture and design company Cave Urban. The Treehouse and the upgrading of the surrounding area will create a fascinating place to visit and provide a wonderful nature play area for children and their families. Construction is to commence in July and completion is planned for October this year.

The Friends are delighted to be able to support a major project such as this, which will enhance the family experience at the gardens and provide a magnificent public art work. More detailed information will be in the August issue of Fronds and on the Friends website, and a special fundraising campaign will be launched in the near future.


Picture by Cave Urban

AAFBG AGM reports

The AGM of the Australian Association of Friends of Botanic Gardens was held at ANBG on 20 May. Reports from the meeting can be read at http://www.friendsbotanicgardens.org/archive/aafbg-agm-2017.

Friends AGM 31 October 2017

First announcement

The 29th Annual General Meeting of the Friends will be held on 31 October 2017 in the Theatrette. Light refreshments will be served in the Dickson room from 5pm. The AGM will commence at 5.30pm and will be followed by a talk by an invited speaker (more information a little later).

There will be several vacancies on Council to be filled. The Agenda and the nomination form will be on the Friends website closer to the time of the AGM.

Dorothy Paty talk

28 June at the National Library Theatre at 6pm

Members are invited to special talk by National Library Treasures Curator Nat Williams on Dorothy English Paty’s Newcastle sketchbooks.
 

The library holds the works of Dorothy English Paty, one of Australia’s best early natural historians. She filled two exceptional sketchbooks with watercolours of plants and wild flowers of the Newcastle district. Treasures Curator Nat Williams examines the circumstances around the production of these memorable works.

Entry cost is $20 and bookings are essential on https://www.stickytickets.com.au/52772/treasures_gallery_talk_life_and_death__dorothy_english_patys_newcastle_sketchbooks.aspx or go to http://www.nla.gov.au and scroll to 'Events this month'.
 

First notice for Wake up with the Birds

Weekends from Saturday 23 September to Sunday 15 October

There is a new format for the popular early morning Walk with the Birds at the Gardens. Tours are led by expert guides who will be happy to stay and chat after the walk. Breakfast, tea and coffee will be an optional extra at the recently renovated Pollen café at the Gardens. Full information, including costs and booking details, will be available on the Friends website from 24 August.
 

Illawarra Grevillea Park Open Days

1-2 and 8-9 July

The Illawarra Grevillea Park Society has announced their winter open days on 1-2 and 8-9 July. This is a wonderful display of Grevilleas and other natives. It is situated at the foot of the Illawarra escarpment near Bulli. The garden will be open from 10am to 4pm with a $5 admission charge.

More information is available at www.grevilleapark.org
 

Thursday Talks at 12.30pm in the Theatrette

22 June - Dr Rolf Oberpreiler and Dr Thomas Wallenuis
A necessary weevil: the pollination biology and evolution of cycads

Rolf will talk on the broad evolutionary relationship between weevils and cycads, and Thomas will place this in the Australian context.

29 June - Professor Margo Neale
Alive with the songlines! Following in the footsteps of the Seven Sisters

Margo, Senior Indigenous Curator at the National Museum of Australia, will background their next major exhibition on the Seven Sisters rock art.

6 July - Dr Laura Rayner
Returning lost property: threatened birds need room to breed

Laura works on long term ecological monitoring for protection of threatened species and restoration of degraded habitats in the ACT. She is a Visiting Fellow at the Fenner School of Environment and Society at ANU. She will examine the perilous population status of the Regent Honeyeater and Superb Parrot and canvas opportunities for their recovery.
Note: the talk by Sue Serjeantson originally scheduled for this date has been postponed to 28 September.

13 July - Dr Janet Gardner
How are Australian birds affected by climate change?

Janet, Research Fellow at ANU, has made novel use of time series available through museum collections and bird banding to explore the dynamics of natural bird populations.

Full details of talks are on the Friends website, including any changes to the program. A small donation to the Friends at the entrance is appreciated. Such funds support the Gardens.

Limited numbers: Thursday Talks have become so popular that, for safety reasons, we have to ensure that we don't exceed the upper limit of 90 in the Theatrette. Please arrive early to ensure a seat.
 

Albert Morris Ecological Restoration Field trip to Broken Hill

22-24 August 2017

The Albert Morris Award Committee is planning a once-in-a lifetime ecological restoration-themed field trip to Broken Hill with organised activities within Broken Hill occurring over the three days including a welcome reception, tour of the reserves, working bees and Awards dinner. The purpose is to celebrate the significance of the 1930's Broken Hill Regeneration Reserves in pioneering ecological restoration in Australia and to make links with locals involved with the project. This will mark the inauguration of the Albert Morris Ecological Restoration Award.

Read more about this upcoming event at http://www.aabr.org.au/event/albert-morris-ecological-restoration-field-trip-and-restoration-awards/, watch this video, and read the special Broken Hill issue of AABR News. Friends members are invited to participate in this event. Early bird discounts end 15 July so get in quickly. Book online at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/broken-hill-albert-morris-award-field-trip-tickets-34487725716.

The Australian Network for Plant Conservation (ANPC) is proud to be co-hosting this event with the Australian Association of Bush Regenerators, Greening Australia and the Society for Ecological Restoration Australasia.