There are three full-day field trips to choose from. There are no limits to numbers for each at this stage.
All field trips will leave from the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne at the Bus Parking Zone on Birdwood Avenue, between Observatory House and the Herbarium Building (Mueller Hall).
Field Trip #1: Native Grass Seed Production and Large-Scale Grassland Restoration – 9:00am to 4:00pm
In the morning, we will visit a native grass seed producer to learn about seed production at large scales at a commercial facility established near Melbourne. See how native grasses are farmed, harvested, sorted and stored. Then, we will visit Sydenham Park near Tullamarine Airport, a large-scale grassland restoration project that aims to re-establish dominant grassland species, as well as introducing grassland forbs into the matrix. This day will suit those interested in the practicalities of up-scaling seed production and grassland restoration, and provide insight into the pitfalls and solutions to such activities.
Sponsored by Flora Victoria and Brimbank City Council
Field Trip #2: Grassy Woodland Restoration at Yanakie Isthmus, Wilsons Promontory National Park – 8:30am to 5:00pm
See how woodland restoration using an adaptive management framework is being implemented at Yanakie Isthmus to restore grassy woodlands overrun by fire-sensitive shrubs (e.g. Leptospermum laevigatum). By linking researchers, on-ground experimentation and land managers, and having a clear picture of how adaptive management works, you will see the outcomes of using controlled fire and herbivore control to recover the original ecosystem. Will suit those interested in grassy woodland ecology, ecosystem dynamics and landscape-scale management.
Sponsored by Ecology Australia and Parks Victoria
Field Trip #3: The Role of Botanic Gardens in Applied Conservation – 9:00am to 4:00pm
This field trip to the magnificent Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Cranbourne will focus on: 1) Threatened Orchid Conservation Research (including a tour of the Lab and nursery), 2) Climate Adaptation Research Plots, 3) managing the remnant vegetation for conservation of ground fauna and, 4) viewing some of the Special Collections held at the Gardens. This field trip will suit those interested in propagation of threatened species, the role of Botanic Gardens in applied conservation, and remnant vegetation management.
Sponsored by the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
