Plant leads botanic group

THE Friends of Noosa Botanic Gardens have found an appropriate match between their activities and the name of their new president.
Horticulturalist and regional ABC radio gardening presenter Paul Plant has been elected as the 2016 president of the Friends of the Noosa Botanic Gardens.
Paul is also the editor and owner of the gardening magazine, Sub Tropical Gardening, on the Steering Committee for the recently established Friends of Brisbane Botanic Gardens and an active member of the Friends of Noosa Botanic Gardens.
“I plan to proceed into 2016 with all the gusto and energy created over the past year by the Friends Committee, Garden Maintenance and Guides teams and all the volunteers,” Paul said.
“My aim is to complete current projects; repeat flagship events such as the Father’s Day Plant Fair and develop new projects in conjunction with Noosa Council and its Noosa Botanic Gardens team.”
Paul said he would like to implement a Living Collection Policy; a plant database and planning tool existing in other Botanic Gardens in Australia.
“This document will provide guidelines on what and how to incorporate new plantings and how to protect and enhance identified ‘significant’ collection species,” he said.
“2016 shall be a year of both consolidation and growth – particularly in encouraging new members with fresh ideas to assist both in the gardens maintenance and as guides as well as for our varied musical and other events.”