The Friends are an active support group for the Gardens. That support is provided in many ways, through volunteering and fund-raising, and includes :
- Political lobbying to raise the profile of the Gardens and secure its finances
- Guided walks within the Gardens
- Weekly lunchtime talks in the Gardens Theatrette
- Sponsoring of public concerts in the Gardens
- Plant propagation and sales
- Photographic Competition for ACT and Queanbeyan Region High School and College students
- Botanic Art Group and annual exhibition of botanical art.
- Friends Photographic Group
- Support for the Botanical Resource Centre
- Fronds newsletter for members produced 3 times a year
- Breakfast with the Birds experience in springtime, combining early morning bird-watching in the Gardens with a gourmet breakfast at the Gardens' cafe
To view details of many of these activities click here
Funding projects within the Gardens is a very important function of the Friends. A significant recent project was a shade shelter over the Crosbie Morrison Building amphitheatre: this was a gift to the Gardens marking its 40th anniversary and the Friends’ 20th anniversary.
An on-going project is financial and volunteer support of a research project into the effects of climate change on Australian alpine flora – over 3 years, the Friends are providing over $60,000 for this project and the Australian Research Commission is providing over $250,000.
Previous projects include a water feature alongside the Visitor Information Centre, internet information packages on Australian fungi and bryophytes, a fogging system for the Rainforest Gully and electric wheelchairs for the use of elderly and disabled visitors.
Contributions to the Friends’ tax-deductible public fund have been used to construct a public shelter on the rock garden lawn, install environmental monitoring stations to demonstrate differences in micro-climates within the Gardens and produce an internet information package on Australian lichens.
