AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
Botanic Gardens Day is an annual day of celebration to highlight the role of plants in our lives and the important work botanic gardens and arboreta undertake every day to conserve them for future generations.
Hop over to the @BotanicGardensDay Facebook page, join and follow, give it a like, share it with colleagues and friends, ask them to do the same, let’s spread the word!
CELEBRATING INSPIRATIONAL PLANTS AND PEOPLE
On Sunday 28 May 2023, more than 100 botanic gardens and arboreta across Australia and New Zealand will celebrate Botanic Gardens Day with their respective communities. Stay tuned for a list of what’s on and where!
JOIN IN THE BOTANIC GARDENS SEASOL PLANT CHALLENGE — 1-28 MAY 2023
4th Botanic Gardens Plant Challenge
Seasol International are again partnering with BGANZ to highlight the knowledge and expertise held within the amazing BGANZ membership. The Botanic Gardens Seasol Plant Challenge is open to anyone, but it has been the employees, friends and volunteers within botanic gardens and arboreta who continue to steal the show. This year’s theme is Inspirational Plants and People.
Tell your plant story!
Share your story on Inspirational Plants and People by posting a 30-60 second video to your favourite social media platform, with a short message about your inspirational plant/plant person, using the hashtags #PlantChallenge, #BotanicGardensDay and #LoveSeasol.
If you’re at a garden or arboretum, have a look at our video guidelines and checklist for garden staff.
If you’re a plant-loving member of the public, have a look at our video guidelines for the public.
Have a look at the videos from previous years to get ideas for yours! Head to our YouTube channel and be inspired!
Spread the word: #PlantChallenge others to tell their plant story and stay tuned as we celebrate Inspirational Plants and People through your shared stories!
We look forward to seeing and hearing all your #PlantChallenge responses in 2023!
#PlantChallenge begins 1 May and will end in celebration on Botanic Gardens Day 28 May.
Seasol prizes for regional member gardens, including Friends groups!
There will be prizes awarded for the best entries, including:
• a year’s supply of Seasol for the best entries from regional member gardens (including Friends groups)
• a Seasol mini prize pack to be won at each of the four webinars
• a Seasol hamper worth $50 for each of the best three individual (public) entries.
Please email media@bganz.org.au and advise us of your plans to participate so that we can share your images and videos across May.
Head to Botanic Gardens Day Facebook @BotanicGardensDay like, comment and/or share, Instagram @bganz1 , Twitter @BGANZ1 and YouTube accounts to follow and share our posts.
FORUMS AND WEBINARS
We are excited to announce, that during May 2023, in the lead up to Botanic Gardens Day we will host and present forums and webinars aimed at industry professionals and all those many plant lovers out there.
Webinars hosted by Costa Georgiadis
In the lead up to Botanic Gardens Day on 28 May, BGANZ will again hold four online webinars every Thursday evening at 7pm-8pm AEST, hosted by Costa Georgiadis, highlighting members and other experts, and their amazing knowledge.
To watch the webinars live, head to Costa’s Facebook, LinkedIn or YouTube pages at 7pm AEST on the dates below! They will also be recorded so don’t worry if you can’t make it on the night.
Webinars for industry professionals
We have two professional development events in May. These will be held via MS Teams and will also be recorded if you can’t make them on the day.
10 May BCARM Workshop: It’s all about the plants! Botanic gardens and their plant collections with three keynote speakers, three case studies from regional gardens and a panel discussion. 10am-12noon AEST. Click here to join.
26 May BGEN Webinar: Zippy’s Bush Kindy Kings Park – Big adventures for little nature lovers aged 3-5 years with Kate McMurtrie, Education Coordinator, Kings Park and Botanic Gardens, Perth, Western Australia. 12.30pm-1.30pm AEST. Click here to join.
EVENTS ON BOTANIC GARDENS DAY
- Costa will be livestreaming from Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens on their 20th birthday on 27 May. To join the fun, head to Costa’s Facebook or YouTube pages on the day.
- Community radio 3CR Melbourne will have a live show dedicated to botanic gardens, with John Arnott Manager Horticulture at RBGV Cranbourne Gardens, and Clare Hart Manager Horticulture RBGV Melbourne Gardens, talking all things botanic gardens. Costa will join the conversation as will Tim Entwisle, the outgoing Director and Chief Executive of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, to talk about his 10 years as CEO of RBGV. Click here to listen from 7.30am-9.15am AEST on 28 May.
- Events are planned at many botanic gardens in Australia and New Zealand. Click here for the latest information.
BACKGROUND
Botanic Gardens Day was launched in 2016 by ABC TV’s Gardening Australia host, and Botanic Gardens Day Australian Ambassador, Costa Georgiadis, and New Zealand Ambassador, Jack Hobbs. Each year this event has over 100 botanic gardens, arboreta and gardens in Australia and New Zealand taking part and celebrating the vital work botanic gardens do for plant conservation.
Gardens hold many special events on the day every year – to find out what your local garden is planning check your local gardens’ websites for details. As the day approaches more updates on gardens’ web and facebook pages will appear.
Thanks to our partner Seasol International for their fantastic support with the Botanic Gardens Seasol Plant Challenge in 2023.
If you have any questions please email Dr Rebecca Harcourt, BGANZ Admin and Comms Officer, media@bganz.org.au.
