NEXT MEETING:

MEETING: Monday 7 April 2025 at 7:30 pm. At St Alban’s Community Centre, 1049 Colombo Street, Christchurch (parking available at 126 Caledonian Road, see https://www.sacc.org.nz/). Speaker: Dr Cathy Rufaut. Topic: Enhancement of alkaline saline soil-free bare substrates and specialist ecosystems in southern New Zealand.

Covid-19 Notice: Canterbury Botanical Society committee encourages members to take measures to reduce transmission risk of Covid-19 (and other respiratory illnesses) at Bot Soc events. Face coverings/masks and normal Covid-19 precautions (e.g. physical distancing where possible) are welcomed. Please do not attend Bot Soc meetings or field trips if you have Covid or any cold/flu symptoms.

NEXT FIELD TRIP:

FIELD TRIP: Saturday 5 April 2025. Note change from usual date. ‘Kaitorete Karo Clobber’, Kaitorete Scenic Reserve (DOC), Birdlings Flat, with Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust volunteers and DOC staff.
Canterbury Bot Soc and Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust (BPCT) are joining forces for an educational and fun day of weeding in the new Kaitorete Scenic Reserve at Birdlings Flat. Come and learn about these unique and highly significant dryland ecosystems and threatened plants like the Kaitorete prostrate broom (Carmichaelia appressa) and leafless pōhuehue (Muehlenbeckia ephedroides), while helping to protect them from harmful weeds. One of the biggest threats to native vegetation in the reserve is karo (Pittosporum crassifolium), a fast-growing tree that is native to the North Island (it does not occur naturally in the South Island). More than 500 karo were found in the reserve in a recent survey, and some plants are starting to produce seeds. BPCT volunteers, DOC staff, and others have spent many hours controlling karo (and other weeds) in Hauroko Covenant (the southern part of the reserve), but karo has not been weeded from the rest of the reserve. To make things fun, we’ll have a competition with prizes for most karo killed, biggest karo killed etc. and will provide light refreshments at lunchtime.
Where to meet: Meet for carpooling at 8:45 am at the Halswell Bowling Club carpark (301 Halswell Road) or meet at 9:30 am at the end of Poranui Beach Road at Birdlings Flat (see map below).
Suitability: Mostly flat terrain, but the reserve is untracked with scratchy shrubs. Children welcome.
What to bring: Gloves, drink bottle/thermos, sturdy footwear, warm jacket, raincoat, warm hat, sun hat. Long pants to protect against scratchy vegetation. We will provide hand tools but feel free to bring your own loppers and/or saw if you like. We will provide light refreshments at lunchtime. People can choose to stay on and do more weeding after lunch, or go home for a well-earned rest.
Cost: Suggested petrol reimbursement of $15 to drivers if you get a ride with someone else (calculated from $1/km, 4 to a car).
Trip leader/s: Melissa Hutchison (Botanical leader) and Sophie Hartnell (Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust volunteer co-ordinator). Please email fieldtrips@canterburybotanicalsociety.org.nz if you intend to come along so we know numbers and can let you know if the trip is postponed. Postponement day is Saturday 12 April.

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

MEETING: Monday 5 May 2025 at 7:30 pm. At St Alban’s Community Centre, 1049 Colombo Street, Christchurch (parking available at 126 Caledonian Road, see https://www.sacc.org.nz/). Speaker: Nicholas Head (Ecologist, Christchurch City Council). Topic: The five wonders of the world in Canterbury (that you may never see).

FIELD TRIP: Saturday 10 May 2025. Staveley forests – managed restoration and fungi in the Totty forest and Staveley camp forest remnants. Trip leader: Alice Shanks.

CANTERBURY BOTANICAL SOCIETY AGM: Saturday 7 June 2025. At St Alban’s Community Centre, 1049 Colombo Street, Christchurch (parking available at 126 Caledonian Road, see https://www.sacc.org.nz/).

MEETING: Monday 7 July 2025 at 7:30 pm. At St Alban’s Community Centre, 1049 Colombo Street, Christchurch (parking available at 126 Caledonian Road, see https://www.sacc.org.nz/). Speaker: TBA. Topic: TBA.

FIELD TRIP: Saturday 12 July 2025. Hidden Treasures of Kainga.

MEETING: Monday 4 August 2025 at 7:30 pm. At St Alban’s Community Centre, 1049 Colombo Street, Christchurch (parking available at 126 Caledonian Road, see https://www.sacc.org.nz/). Speaker: Dr Matiu Prebble (University of Canterbury). Topic: New insights from unearthing stumps from former Christchurch forests.

FIELD TRIP: Saturday 9 August 2025. Wakanui Beach.

MEETING: Monday 1 September 2025 at 7:30 pm. At St Alban’s Community Centre, 1049 Colombo Street, Christchurch (parking available at 126 Caledonian Road, see https://www.sacc.org.nz/). Speaker: TBA. Topic: TBA.

FIELD TRIP: Saturday 6 September 2025. TBA

MEETING: Monday 6 October 2025 at 7:30 pm. At St Alban’s Community Centre, 1049 Colombo Street, Christchurch (parking available at 126 Caledonian Road, see https://www.sacc.org.nz/). Speaker: TBA. Topic: TBA.

FIELD TRIP: Saturday 11 October 2025. TBA.

MEETING: Monday 3 November 2025 at 7:30 pm. At St Alban’s Community Centre, 1049 Colombo Street, Christchurch (parking available at 126 Caledonian Road, see https://www.sacc.org.nz/). Speaker: TBA. Topic: TBA.

FIELD TRIP: Canterbury Anniversary Weekend Spring Camp. Friday 14 – Sunday 16 November 2025. TBA.

MEETING: Monday 1 December 2025 at 7:30 pm. At St Alban’s Community Centre, 1049 Colombo Street, Christchurch (parking available at 126 Caledonian Road, see https://www.sacc.org.nz/). Speaker: TBA. Topic: TBA.

FIELD TRIP: Saturday 6 December 2025. TBA.

ABOUT CANTERBURY BOTANICAL SOCIETY MEETINGS & FIELD TRIPS

The Society holds monthly evening meetings, usually on the first Monday of each month. Meetings start at 7.30 pm. We organise a speaker and follow the meeting with an informal supper and chat. We have been exploring new venues to hold our evening meetings, so please check the meeting notices to confirm where meetings will be held.

Information for speakers
The meeting room has a data projector (and cable) but you need to bring your own laptop or advise the meeting organiser that they need to bring one. Please check that your laptop is able to connect to an external projector.

Field trips are usually held on the Saturday following the evening meeting. Trips in the winter months are to places closer to Christchurch and in the warmer months we take advantage of the longer daylight hours to venture further afield.

We have a week-long summer camp in January or February, and visit places which are too far to access from Christchurch for a day trip. We book affordable accommodation and make daily excursions from this point.

In spring we usually have a long weekend camp over Show Weekend (Canterbury Anniversary weekend) in November.

Occasionally we hold workshops on specific topics.

The AGM is held on the first Saturday after Queen’s Birthday weekend. After the AGM we have a speaker, followed by a shared finger food lunch.