Friends of Wellington Botanic Garden support botanical research
With the Wellington Botanic Garden—Ki Paekākā our close neighbour in Kelburn, the University of Wellington enjoys close links with the Friends of Wellington Botanic Garden. We are delighted that the Friends have established an annual award of $5000 for the next five years to support a Master’s student involved in active botanical research.
The award is available through the Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration and Ecology with recipients focusing their research on plants held by the Wellington Botanic Garden’s specialised collections.
Friends committee president, and University alumna Mazz Scannell, says they are incredibly excited about the award.
“This award will not only strengthen the relationship between the University and ourselves, it also provides another channel for the Gardens and Friends to contribute to the knowledge base of the wider biological and science community.”
The first recipient, Sarah Goldberg, will study strategies to reintroduce missing podocarp species into regenerating urban forests with supervisory support from staff at Wellington’s Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne ecosanctuary and Ōtari Native Botanic Garden and Wilton’s Bush Reserve.
When land has been burned, grazed, or used for forestry it can lack important podocarp canopy species such as rimu, kahikatea, miro, mataī and tōtara. Sarah will investigate how direct seeding methods, either by hand or using drones, can get the optimal quantity of seeds into the right place at the right time to restore these important trees.
Mazz Scannell says Sarah was an immediate first choice for the award.
“Sarah’s application was the standout because of her focus on Wellington and her ability to apply modern thinking to make sure that vital species flourish in existing situations.”
As well as the financial assistance, Sarah describes the vote of confidence in her and her research as “priceless”.
“One of the biggest hurdles as a middle-aged woman returning to university, apart from finances, is believing in my ability to enter this domain. During my first conversation with Mazz there was shared enthusiasm, interest in my study, offers of help, and the reminder that even when things get tough, I should not give up. This holistic approach to scholarship granting is heart-warming and I am truly grateful.”
The Friends believe this award is important, because New Zealand, like the rest of the world, has seen a decline in the number of university students studying science. This is worrying in the context of today’s societies in which science and technology play an essential role.
“Anything the Friends can do to support science and botany is a big plus for the Friends.”
As a registered charity that has been running for 33 years, the Friends’ purpose is to celebrate and support the mahi of the Garden in five spheres: education, social, research, recreation, and cultural. They are an enthusiastic group, whether they are gardeners, ‘plant geeks’ or just passionate about the Garden. As well as providing guided walks, they aim to foster science knowledge and education, raise funds for projects to enhance the gardens, and host engaging events.
Lead guide and Friends committee member Reg Harris has been hosting guided walks for students from Te Kura Mātauranga Koiora the School of Biological Sciences for the past nine years to introduce them to the main plant collections.
A former Botany student himself, Reg has a wide botanical knowledge and over the years has developed a series of talks for the Garden’s ‘Brown bag’ lunch lectures and presentations at the Treehouse. Topics have included fungi, photosynthesis, pharmaceutical botany, scientific names for plants, and plant diseases. His display ‘Women in Botany’ showcased the significant contributions of brilliant, independent-minded, female botanists over the last three centuries.
The Friends’ latest project is raising funds for a new science and discovery centre in the renovated 60-year-old Begonia House, a Wellington landmark that attracts more than 400,000 visitors each year. This has been ably assisted by the launch of their gin called Down the Garden Path.
In a collaboration believed to be the first of its kind in New Zealand, Kāpiti coast distillers The Bond Store created the gin, drawing inspiration from a similar collaboration created for Kew Gardens in the UK. The sophisticated blend contains eight botanicals including native kawakawa and rosehips specially harvested from the Lady Norwood Rose Gardens. Naturally, many tastings at committee meetings were required to perfect the offering.
As well as the focus on science education, the arts are not neglected. Award-winning children’s and botanical illustrator Sandra Morris ONZM is the Artist in Residence during February and March 2024. There are also monthly musical performances for koha in the Begonia house with its stunning acoustics—many featuring graduates of the New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī.
Mazz Scannell looks forward to a future of closer collaboration with the University.
“It is our hope that with the support of the Friends and the wider community, we will be able to continue the award for more than five years and encourage further sponsors.”