Gardens Congress Starts on Sunday

Dunedin (Friday, 18 October 2013) – There will be even more international visitors than usual in the city as the 5th Global Botanic Gardens Congress get underway.

There are 329 delegates and guests from 45 countries attending the Congress, which runs from 20 to 25 October.

Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) has a three-yearly cycle for its congresses and Dunedin has been chosen to host this prestigious event, to coincide with the Dunedin Botanic Garden’s 150th anniversary. The city is hosting the 6th Biennial Botanic Gardens Australia & New Zealand Congress at the same time.

Dunedin Botanic Garden Team Leader Alan Matchett says it is an exciting time for the Garden and the city.

“We are looking forward to welcoming delegates and their guests and showing them the city’s wonderful attractions and facilities.”

Dunedin City Council Project Manager Hamish Black says the largest numbers of registrations have been received from Australia (61), New Zealand (60), the United States (58), China (29) and the United Kingdom (27). There are also delegates from Europe and a range of other countries including Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Russia and Mexico.

The Congress has the theme ‘Celebrating success – the influence and appeal of botanic gardens’. It will include a wide-ranging programme of keynote addresses, symposia, workshops and field trips that cover the challenges and achievements of botanic gardens and partner organisations around the world. The Congress sessions will be held at the refurbished Dunedin Centre. There will also be social functions, including an evening at Toitū Otago Settlers Museum.

The public will be able to attend a talk by delegate and presenter Dr Richard Benfield, from the Central Connecticut State University, on garden tourism. This event, which has been organised by the Friends of the Botanic Garden, will be held at 7pm on Wednesday 23 October at the Botanic Garden Information Centre.

There will also be an open panel discussion at 7.30pm on Wednesday at the Glenroy Auditorium, Dunedin Centre, hosted by the Chief Executive of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, Tim Entwisle.

ends

© Scoop Media