NEXT MEETING:
MEETING: Monday 5 October 2026 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: Jane Gosden. Topic: Kettle Hole Tarns.
Jane Gosden is a plant ecologist based in Ōtautahi | Christchurch. Jane is the author of Mountain Daisies: a guide to Celmisia in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Currently, Jane is undertaking PhD research on the plant ecology of kettle hole tarns.
Jane has provided a talk summary:
Kettle hole tarns that form ephemeral wetlands (hereafter kettles) are plant biodiversity hotspots containing over 400 species of plants and lichens (hereafter “plant”) including numerous At Risk and Threatened species. Management of kettles is challenging because they are small (median 0.09 ha), widely distributed in Te Waipounamu | the South Island, patchy in the landscape, found across a wide range of land tenures and experience varied land uses. My PhD examines four aspects of kettle plant community ecology aiming to guide management recommendations for these extraordinary ecosystems. Collectively, my PhD covers 1) the geographic distribution of kettles and their underlying land tenure, 2) patterns in the biodiversity of kettles along their range, 3) changes in kettle plant communities through time, and 4) the role of seed banks and Canada geese in the dispersal of kettle plants. So far, my work indicates most kettle biodiversity is held off the conservation estate, many individual kettles contain unique biodiversity, and geese likely play an important role in kettle plant ecology.
NEXT FIELD TRIP:
FIELD TRIP: Sunday 10 October 2026. Medbury Scientific Reserve & nearby private dryland remnant.
Our main venue will be Medbury Scientific Reserve. This is one of two kanuka-dominated dryland reserves in the Culverden Basin – touchstones of a formerly extensive vegetation type that evolved to survive on highly drought-prone outwash surfaces.
Bot Soc visits these reserves periodically to reacquaint ourselves with dryland flora and to assess changes, and in the case of Medbury Reserve to gauge recovery after a fire damaged part of the reserve several years ago. Following this we will visit another kanuka remnant on a nearby private property, this one supporting a remarkably strong population of pygmy mistletoe, Korthalsella salicorniodes
Where to meet: Meet for carpooling at 9:00 am at the Peg Tavern carpark (899 Main North Road, Belfast), to reach Medbury Reserve at 10am. Alternatively, meet in Amberley, Andersons Road (across the road form the public toilets) at 9 30 am.
Suitability: Easy terrain. Weather-appropriate clothing recommended, as always.
What to bring: Lunch, drink bottle/thermos, sturdy footwear, raincoat, warm jacket, hand lens, walking stick, camera.
Cost: Suggested petrol reimbursement of $25 to drivers if you get a ride with someone else (calculated from $1/km, 4 to a car).
iNaturalist: Medbury Scientific Reserve is public land, iNaturalist observations are welcome. The second part of the trip is on private land, please respect this and do not make iNaturalist observations.
Trip leader/s: Please text Rima, 027 872 2329 if you intend to come along, so we can let you know if the trip is cancelled.
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.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
MEETING: Monday 2 November 2026 at 7:30 pm. Sarah Wyse – Pinus radiata hybrids as a solution to forestry’s wilding conifer problem.
FIELD TRIP: Saturday 7 November 2026. Steephead, Banks Peninsula.
CAMP: November 12-16 (Show Weekend). Westport.
MEETING: Monday 7 December 2026. Liadan Dickie (MSc Student, University of Canterbury). Liadan was awarded a Botanical Society Student Grant in 2025 and will speak about her MSc thesis research.
FIELD TRIP: Saturday 12 December 2026. Alpine Trip
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.
All members participating in Canterbury Botanical Society activities must abide by our Health and Safety Policy and Member Health and Safety Guide.
Field trips are usually held on the Saturday following the evening meeting. Trips in the winter months are to places closer to Christchurch, while in the warmer months we take advantage of the longer daylight hours to venture further afield.
In November, we usually have a 3-day spring camp held over Show Weekend (Canterbury Anniversary weekend). We sometimes also have a summer camp in January or February. We book affordable accommodation and make daily excursions from this point.
Occasionally we hold workshops on specific topics.
The AGM is usually held the week after King’s Birthday weekend. After the AGM we have a speaker, followed by a shared supper or lunch.
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.
