There is a variety of workshops available on Sunday 20 March which we know will prove popular with conference attendees and locals alike.
Workshop 1: Starting your own community nursery
When: 10:00-12:00
Where: Jean Malpas Community Nursery, Kelvin Heights
Workshop leaders: Ben Teele supported by Arne Cleland and Chris Rance
Numbers: This workshop is limited to 15 people
Cost: $10
About: We will be covering basic knowledge required to operate a small low tech community nursery. This will include knowledge of the plants you want to grow and the basic horticultural techniques/practises to grow them. Also the essential infrastructural facilities and materials required to establish a successful nursery. There will be plenty of Q&A time.
Workshop 2: Introduction to propagation of native plants
When: 13:00-16:00
Where: Jean Malpas Community Nursery, Kelvin Heights
Workshop leaders: Arne Cleland, supported by Ben Teele and Chris Rance
Numbers: This workshop is limited to 15 people
Cost: $10
About: We will cover the basics of growing from seed and cuttings within a low tech nursery. Also included will be what is eco-sourcing and it’s importance. We will have some practical demonstrations and hands-on experience time. There will be plenty of Q&A time.
Workshop 3: Plant ID course – New Zealand grasses (Poaceae)
When: 09:00-12:00
Where: Coronet Peak
Workshop leader: Kerry Ford
Numbers: limited to 12 people
Cost: $25
About: An introduction to the main grass genera you are likely to run into in the mountains and how to tell them apart. Time will be spent outside collecting grasses before we move inside to focus on basic grass morphology and get you using the NZ Grass Key (Lucid multi-access key).
Workshop 4: Plant ID course – New Zealand sedges (Cyperaceae)
When: 13:00-16:00
Where: Coronet Peak
Workshop leader: Kerry Ford
Numbers: This workshop is limited to 12 people
Cost: $25
About: Introduction to the NZ Carex Key (Lucid multi-access key). Time will be spent outside collecting sedges before we move inside to focus on basic sedge morphology and how to recognise genera.
Sophora microphylla by Jo OgierWorkshop 5: Botanical illustration
When: 09:00-16:00
Where: Sherwood
Workshop leader: Jo Ogier
Numbers: This workshop is limited to 12 people
Cost: $100
About: In this workshop you will delve into the intricacies of botanical illustration. Through a series of drawing explorations you will gain a greater understanding of what you see and how to portray it accurately. These explorations will include: plant structure; the use of line, tone and colour to create form; creating perspective and elements of composition. This workshop is suitable for both beginners with a passion for plants and for those with some botanical experience. Lunch is included in the price of this workshop.
Workshop 6: Botanising with iNaturalist
When: 10:00-12:00
Where: Kiwi Birdlife Park
Workshop leaders: Colin Meurk with support from Jon Sullivan
Numbers: This workshop is limited to 20 people
Cost: $10
About: This consists of two contiguous 1-hour workshops back-to-back in one session (10:00-12:00). The first will be a beginners or refresher course – remembering to record flower/fruit state. Then you will take your iNaturalist experience to the next level learning how to do things like tagging and editing observations; curating the iNaturalist species tree and nomenclature; streaming iNaturalist observations to external websites; and connecting R to iNaturalist for data analysis.
Workshop 7: Lichens workshop
When: 13:00-16:00
Where: Kiwi Birdlife Park
Workshop leaders: Melissa Hutchison, Marley Ford, and Allison Knight
Numbers: This workshop is limited to 15 people
Cost: $20
About: Come and learn about the fascinating world of lichens - their habitats, ecological roles, and how to identify them. The workshop will involve a brief local field excursion (to get a feel for the substrates and habitats occupied by different lichen species), as well as an indoor session on lichen identification using keys and lab techniques.
Workshop 8: Using direct seeding for large-scale native afforestation
When: 13:00-16:00
Where: Crown Range
Workshop leaders: Pieter Brits and Tim Whittaker
Numbers: This workshop is limited to 20 people
Cost: $10
About:Join SeedNZnatives for a demonstration of their innovative direct seeding technology. Hosted by Nadia Lim and Carlos Bagrie on their high country station, 30 minutes from Queenstown, Nadia and Carlos are transforming their property with a variety of regenerative agriculture practices including a native planting programme. This workshop is being coordinated externally by SeedNZNatives - contact Pieter Brits for more details ().