News

Ōtari waits for council nursery decision

Is it in or is it out? The current small nursery has little room for hosting visiting groupsŌtari’s Landscape Development Plan has been flagged for axing from the Council’s 2024 Long-term Plan. But Council officers have recommended it stays, given it sets aside $3.1 million for much-needed staff facilities. We will learn this Thursday (21st) if Councillors agree, although there is now hope, given the latest financial advice related to insurance costs, that LTP cuts will not be necessary. Phew. For now, here’s what the Landscape Development Plan is all about, and why the Trust feels it is important. Ōtari Native Botanic Garden is home to more than half of all New Zealand’s native plant species, including some 450 of our rarest and most endangered. Our gardeners somehow manage to care for these special plants in Ōtari’s old, crammed nursery. All student levels visit Ōtari for conservation and botanical educationThe Landscape Development Plan aims to redevelop the nursery, propagation and laboratory areas. Improved nursery configuration, better irrigation and a humidity-controlled facility for alpine plants (increasingly important as our climate changes) are part of the plan. Better facilities for Ōtari’s conservation scientists are also included. A third, and key part of the plan is to make the nursery collections more accessible to visitors, for tourism and especially for education, thus providing opportunities for primary and secondary students, and university scholarship and masters students to learn about the incredible conservation plant care and science research happening at Ōtari. In summary, the Landscape Development Plan would ensure an outstanding visitor and education resource for Wellington, and provide our gardeners and conservation scientists with the facilities they need. The Trust is grateful to those Councillors who have so far shown support for Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush in these financially challenging times.

Posted: 17 November 2024

International acclaim for Ōtari orchid scientists

Stories of native orchid conservation research at Ōtari impressed an international audience of orchid specialists, in Perth in September. Scientists from the Lions Ōtari Plant Conservation Laboratory madeJennifer Alderton-Moss and her winning poster presentations to the 8th International Orchid Conservation Congress on their groundbreaking research undertaken around the germination of rare native orchids. A poster summarising progress on the genus Corybas (helmet orchids), designed and presented by plant conservation researcher, Jennifer Alderton-Moss, was awarded Best Poster at the Congress. Conservation and Science Advisor, Karin van der Walt, gave a talk about Gastrodia (potato orchids, and especially the team’s work on G. cooperae) and Carlos Lehnebach (Botany Curator, Te Papa who is also part of the Otari research project) gave a talk about Corybas carsei (swamp helmet orchid). There were about 90 attendees, who came from far flung places like Czechia and Taiwan, and the week was packed with 50 talks and two workshops, says Jennifer, whose conference attendance was sponsored by the Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Trust.

Posted: 1 October 2024

Community and plants the stars of a great Open Day

Jane and Andrew gathering plants from the Trust Nursery.Community and plants were the obvious themes at the annual Ōtari Open Day, on September 14.

Plant sales were hugely popular – this was the first Open Day that all the plants on sale were propagated from the Ōtari collections in the Trust’s own nursery, thanks to the huge efforts of Jane Humble, Lynley Trower and other volunteers, supported by Ōtari garden staff. Ōtari gardeners and expert Behind the scenes, Ōtari Nursery tourbotanists were on hand to advise those keen to spread the native plant love into their home gardens.

Others took the chance for a tour of the special plants being raised in the Ōtari Nursery.

Meanwhile, local experts were on hand Learning with Tū Mātou Orato discuss everything from kiwi in the capital, to predator, dog and weed control, botany and community and volunteer conservation.

Kids and big kids learned of traditional wellbeing activities with Tū Mātau Ora, raranga with Ōtari Raranga Weavers, rongoā with rangatira Sharli Solomon, Making putiputiand discovered little crawlie things through the microscopes at Open Lab.

Fungi guru and new Trustee, Geoff Ridley, was the delighted raffle-winning recipient of Judi Lapsley Miller’s stunning artwork: ‘Kererū on kōwhai’.

It was great to see so many people enjoying the day, said Ōtari Manager, Tim Park. ‘We are very lucky to have such an engaged network of supporters A buzzy placein the local community and it’s always great to see people and share plant stories.’

Trust Chair, Kevin O`Connor, agreed there was a lovely community feel about Open Day this year. ‘Thanks to everyone involved, especially the Council’s Wellington Gardens staff who all did a great job.’

Posted: 15 September 2024