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Friends of Geelong Botanic Gardens

Education at the GBG

A group of primary school students on a tour of the gardens with a Friends guide

The Friends offer a stimulating education program for primary, secondary and tertiary students. The program is co-ordinated by a qualified teacher/horticulturalist and assisted by skilled teachers on a voluntary basis.

A visit to the Geeong Botanic Gardens will give students a better understanding of:

  • The important part plants play in the ecosystem
  • The role of botanic gardens in conserving rare and threatened plant species
  • The diversity of plants
  • Sustainable planting practices with hands-on activities
  • The relevance of plants in our lives

Students will also gain a sense of ownership and appreciation of the Gardens.

For a summary of the program options available at the Botanic Gardens for teachers and students you can download the Education Program, details and booking form (a pdf document).

Australia's Botanic Gardens & Climate Change

Climate Change has been a hot topic for some time and we have many opportunities to learn more about it's affect on us both globally and locally. Carbon credits and niches for green business are one way of responding but the focus of a Botanic Garden is of course on conservation of plants.

Australia's eight capital city botanic gardens have released a national strategy to adapt to climate change The National Strategy and Action Plan for the Role of Australia's Botanic Gardens in Adapting to Climate Change. The national plan was endorsed by federal, state and territory environment ministers in Adelaide on November 8th 2008.

The national climate change strategy includes:

  • For the first time, prioritising and coordinating seed bank collection – an enduring safety net for our plant genetic resources and an investment against species loss.
  • What plants are most at risk and are we saving their seeds? If so, which garden is?
  • Priorities for living collections – what are the botanic gardens growing? Who grows what, when climate is changing and water is scarce?
  • Should each garden concentrate on what is most appropriate for its climate?
  • A coordinated national education campaign for the 13.4 million visitors a year.

BGANZ will be working towards promoting this strategy and engaging Botanic Gardens in its delivery.