NEXT MEETING:

MEETING: Monday 6 May 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: Robb Eastman-Densem (MSc student, University of Canterbury). Topic: Genomics of Limestone Gentians (Gentianella calcis and G. astonii). Robb will present the results from his master’s research investigating the genetic relationships between Gentianella calcis and G. astonii subspecies and populations. Will these findings impact the taxonomic status and conservation of these plants? What does this mean for management of the limestone habitats these gentians occupy?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEXT FIELD TRIP:

FIELD TRIP: Saturday 11 May. Tūpari reserve, Kaituna Valley, Banks Peninsula. A visit to former farmland recently set aside to naturally regenerate back to forest. Mikimiki Conservation Trust purchased 400 hectares for conservation. Two trustees will take the group for a walk through tall forest, regenerating shrubland, rocky volcanic outcrops, and old pasture.
When and where to meet: Meet for carpooling at 8.30 am at the Halswell Bowling Green carpark, 301 Halswell Road.
What to bring: Lunch and a drink bottle/thermos. Boots/sturdy footwear, warm jacket, raincoat, sun hat.
Suitability: Tūpari means cliff or precipice. Expect a slow walk up a steep hill on a formed trail.
Cost: $5 suggested petrol reimbursement to drivers if you get a ride with someone else.
Trip leader/s: Tom Ferguson (botanical leader) and Alice Shanks (H&S/crowd control). Please email fieldtrips@canterburybotanicalsociety.org.nz if you intend to come along, so we can let you know if the trip is cancelled or plans change.

Covid-19 Notice: As Covid-19 is still circulating in New Zealand, the Botanical Society committee encourages members to take measures to reduce transmission risk at Bot Soc events. Face coverings/masks and normal Covid-19 precautions (e.g. physical distancing where possible) are encouraged. Please avoid meetings and field trips if you have cold/flu symptoms.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Canterbury Botanical Society AGM: Saturday 8 June. At St Alban’s Community Centre, 1049 Colombo Street, Christchurch (parking available at 126 Caledonian Road, see https://www.sacc.org.nz/). Speakers: TBA. Topic: Pecha Kucha – several short talks on botanical topics.

MEETING: Monday 1 July 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 July. TBA.

MEETING: Monday 5 August 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 10 August. Native forest and shrubland in a conservation covenant, Port Levy, Banks Peninsula.

MEETING: Monday 2 September 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 7 September. Tours of members’ gardens with interesting indigenous plantings (or weeds).

MEETING: Monday 7 October 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/). Speakers: Miles Giller, Bex Barrett, Greg Stanley. Topic: Practical kānuka restoration Part II.

FIELD TRIP: Saturday 12 October. Harris Reserve (dryland kānuka) and conservation covenants in Ashburton District.

MEETING: Monday 4 November 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 9 November. Te Pirita dryland, Rakaia River. Botanical leader: Melissa Hutchison. Remnant shrubland-mossfield on an alluvial terrace. The Botanical Society first visited this area in September 2015 and have been keeping a watching brief on its condition.

SPRING CAMP: Saturday 15-17 November (Canterbury Anniversary-Show Weekend). TBA.

MEETING: Monday 2 December 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 Alice Miller. Topic: Monitoring Critically Endangered Plants in the Mojave Desert: Climate Change and Herbivory.

FIELD TRIP: Saturday 7 December. Mt Hutt alpine flora.

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.