Seedy Encounters with the Sydney Botanic Gardens
We were fortunate to welcome Nathan Emery and Laura Watts from the Botanic Gardens of Sydney to provide workshops in Parkes and Forbes.
Collaborations - LEP23-005-CWLL-01_LLC_005
The issue
Central West Lachlan Landcare partnered with the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust and Landcare NSW under the Private Land Conservation Matters (PLCM) Project.
This is Stage 2 of Landcare NSW’s partnership program with the BCT, building on the success and lessons learned from the 2020-22 Project, including increased awareness of the BCT’s roles and responsibilities amongst the Landcare community.
Protecting biodiversity on private lands also plays a vital role in maintaining ecological balance, improving land productivity, and enhancing water quality, all of which directly benefit both the landowners and the broader community.
The solution
We were fortunate to be able to welcome Nathan Emery and Laura Watts from the Botanic Gardens of Sydney to two 'Seedy Encounter' workshops in Parkes and Forbes.
Nathan, a Research Scientist, is the Manager of the Seedbank and Conservation Collections for the Botanic Gardens of Sydney. His colleague, Laura Watts, works as the Collections Development Coordinator. They are both based at Mount Annan.
Nathan and Laura discussed seed collecting strategies such as preserving genetic diversity, how to collect seeds, process collections, and seed germination strategies. There was also an opportunity to check out some of the tools of the trade that are used in the field for seed collecting.
The impact
The Botanic Gardens of Sydney conducts seedbanking as a core activity, with the state-wide conservation seed program having operated for over 20 years. With around 13,000 collections and 5,200 species the seed collection is the largest of its type in Australia and provides the essential seed collections which forms the ‘heart’ of conservation and restoration activities and outcomes.
Parkes attendees undertook a field walk to look at the diversity of native plantings that we have surrounding the town.
In Forbes, the workshop was held at the Forbes Riverside Garden and this was an opportunity to also walk through the tree plantings that are adjacent to the Garden that are native, but not necessarily local species.
There was overwhelming support for a return visit to the Central West from the Botanic Gardens team, hopefully with an opportunity to undertake some collection.
Key facts
- Central West Lachlan Landcare partnered with the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust and Landcare NSW under the Private Land Conservation Matters (PLCM) Project.
- Two scientists from Mount Annan Botanic Gardens provided workshops on seed collection in Parkes and Forbes.
- The Botanic Gardens of Sydney conducts seedbanking as a core activity, with the state-wide conservation seed program having operated for over 20 years.
- Workshop attendees had the opportunity to take home tubestock for plantings.