MORE
THAN A GARDEN - Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney
The
Royal Botanic Gardens and The Domain are two of Sydney's most
popular spots for a whole range of sports - from swimming races
and triathlons right through to soccer, cycle races, jogging,
yoga, walks, personal training and much more.
While we're big on recreation, a whole lot of other things are
going on behind the scenes at the Gardens…
KEEPING
OUR STREAMS HEALTHY
At
the Gardens we've taken positive action to keep our waterways
clean by joining the NSW waterwatch project -- Streamwatch.
Our
team conducts tests at each of our Gardens to determine the water
quality of our streams, ponds and lakes.
Our
staff is committed to minimising our impact on water quality.
Measures include the:
· careful application of fertilisers and pesticides in order to
prevent run-off into our waterways
· use of more natural fertilisers where there may be a
risk of run-off.
Visit
the website at www.streamwatch.org.au and see how the Royal Botanic
Gardens Sydney is working to improve our waterways.
GROWING
CLEANER, SAFER GARDENS
We're
currently trialling reduced pesticide use in our Gardens and complementary
strategies designed to promote cleaner, safer gardens for both
our staff and visitors:
· Low toxicity pesticides and alternative non-toxic applications
wherever possible
· Predatory insects to control pests and diseases
· More water-efficient plants and techniques
· Mulches, fertilisers and composts from sustainable markets
· Worm farms and a new vertical composting unit to break
down waste materials for composting
By
the way, many of these environmentally-friendly practices can
easily be used in home gardens too…
GREENING
HARSH URBAN LANDSCAPES
The
Botanic Gardens Trust and the NSW Department of Housing have joined
forces to present Community Greening - a program designed for
community gardens in public housing estates across the state.
This
very successful partnership encourages community networks between
public housing tenants by uniting them in gardening activities.
The
program also helps to:
· promote social cohesion;
· reduce vandalism, social dysfunction, antisocial activities
and isolation;
· increase ownership of previously open, barren space and
common lands; and,
· increase community understanding of the value of recycling
and sustainable horticultural practices.
Community Greening currently assists more than 33 public housing
estates with the development and maintenance of community gardens.
HELPING
CONSERVE BIODIVSITY
At
Mount Annan Botanic Garden we've established the NSW Seedbank
-- a major repository of seed from threatened and endangered plants
across the state and further afield.
More
than 7,000 collections of seeds are housed at the Seedbank, representing
more than 4,000 species.
Today
the Seedbank plays a major role in conservation and research.
The
Seedbank also supports several horticultural research projects
- from plant breeding to specific conservation projects such as
the Wollemi Pine.
NSW
Seedbank
Helping to conserve biodiversity for the future
WHAT'S ON AT THE GARDENS
Visit
our website for info about sporting events, walks, talks, courses,
exhibitions, concerts, parties, weddings, anything…
www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au
