Past Events

Workshop on Biodiversity and Identification of Plants Native to the Otago Peninsula

At Macandrew Bay Hall. Note the change from our usual meeting time and venue. This is a joint meeting with The Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group. The original native vegetation of the Otago Peninsula has mostly been cleared for pastoral farming. However scattered fragments of the original vegetation remain. The purpose of this workshop is to explore the biodiversity values associated these remnants and assist people to identify the native plants that are still found on the Peninsula.
Speakers

• John Barkla, Department of Conservation "Plant Biodiversity on the Otago Peninsula."
• Nigel McPherson, Colinswood Bush Committee "The Restoration of Colinswood Bush: A 20 Year Story."
• Moira Parker, Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group "Weed-busting."
• Mike Thorsen, Department of Conservation "Practical Identification of Native Plants."

At the end of the formal talks a cup of tea will be served. Specimens of various plants will be laid out on tables around the hall for participants to examine. Questions on plant identification and discussion on the topics covered are welcome.

Download a PDF of the information for this event.

Weekend Field Trip to Silverpeaks

This closest range to Dunedin has a variety of vegetation including beech forest, extensive regenerating shrublands and tussock grasslands/herbfields, and an interesting suite of forest, sub-alpine and alpine lichens. We'll start at Mountain Road and walk into the new Jubilee Hut for the night, probably returning the same way. Participants need to be able to carry a weekend pack over steep terrain for at least five hours each day. Please contact John Barkla ph. 476 3686 or Allison Knight ph. 487 8265.

Annual General Meeting and Photographic Competition

Judging of the 4th BSO photographic competition and a brief AGM. Entries will be on display, photographic tips given and prizes presented. At the Zoology Benham Building, 346 Great King Street, behind the Zoology car park by the Captain Cook Hotel. Use the main entrance of the Benham Building to get in and go to the Benham Seminar Room, Rm. 215, 2nd floor. Please be prompt as we have to hold the door open.

The Fernery

This is the home of Associate Professor Brian Cox and the house is one of the original properties in Pine Hill, over 100 years old. There are extensive ornamental and edible gardens, featuring all white Hydrangea that are sold to the cut flower market. In the beginning of last century it was a fern nursery, thus the name. There are extensive sections of regenerating native bush and several large rimu trees. Meet at the Botany Department car park at 8:50 a.m.

The Orokonui Ecosanctuary

The well known Dunedin conservationist and author Neville Peat will update us on progress at the Orokonui Ecosanctuary and the future plans for it. With the completion and opening of the impressive new visitors centre and introduction of various species to the Ecosanctuary progress has been rapid. Neville is an excellent speaker so dont miss this meeting. At the Zoology Benham Building, 346 Great King Street, behind the Zoology car park by the Captain Cook Hotel. Use the main entrance of the Benham Building to get in and go to the Benham Seminar Room, Rm. 215, 2nd floor. Please be prompt as we have to hold the door open.

Free BSO BBQ!

BBQ to welcome new botany/ecology students and new BSO members. At the front lawn, Botany House Annex, Great King Street (across the road from the main Botany building). Sausage sandwiches and drinks provided free by the Botanical Society of Otago. All BSO members welcome!

Incorporating the Burn and Bite of Vegetation Disturbances into Climate Change Science

A talk by Brent E. Ewers, Associate Professor, Department of Botany, University of Wyoming. At the Zoology Benham Building, 346 Great King Street, behind the Zoology car park by the Captain Cook Hotel. Use the main entrance of the Benham Building to get in and go to the Benham Seminar Room, Rm. 215, 2nd floor. Please be prompt as we have to hold the door open.

Valentine's Day Field Trip to Heywood Point

Heywood Point Scenic Reserve is a rare example of podocarp/broadleaved forest with many special features including fragrant tree daisy (Olearia fragrantissima) and climbing daisy (Brachyglottis sciadophila). With luck, lunch will be in the sun admiring the interesting shrub and herb communities on the coastal cliffs and headland. We'll do a return trip from Aramoana so be prepared for a steep, though scenic climb, up through farmland until the reserve is reached. Meet at the Botany Department carpark at 9 a.m.

Central Otago trip

The BSO has been invited by the Auckland Botanical Society to join them for their annual field trip based at Bannockburn from the 9th to the 15th of January. Excursions are planned to various site of botanical interest in Central Otago. It will be possible to participate for all or part of the time depending on sufficient accommodation being available. Anyone who is interested please contact David Lyttle

End of year dinner

Our popular end-of-year dinner will be held at Golden Harvest Restaurant, 218 George Street, Dunedin at 7 pm. Please email David Orlovich by Wed 2 December if you would like to come.

Lichens Illustrated

A talk by Dr Allison Knight. Lichens grow all around us and play a significant role in the biodiversity and ecology of almost every terrestrial ecosystem. More than 1700 taxa of lichens and lichenicolous fungi are recorded in the magnificent 2007 New Zealand Lichen Flora. Yet most biodiversity recorders still walk right past them. This talk will illustrate the extraordinary diversity of the main morphological groups of lichens. These groups are crucial for understanding the initial keys in the Lichen Flora and form the basis for an illustrated Introductory Field Guide to Lichens. At the Zoology Benham Building, 346 Great King Street, behind the Zoology car park by the Captain Cook Hotel. Use the main entrance of the Benham Building to get in and go to the Benham Seminar Room, Rm. 215, 2nd floor. Please be prompt as we have to hold the door open.

Trip to Swampy Summit

The field trip will be led by Dr David Lyttle and will leave from Botany carpark at 9 am. We will start walking from the at Pigeon Flat carpark at the top of the Motorway (where the board walk starts) at 9.30am. Backup date Sunday November 8th, 2009.

Field trip to Blueskin Farm

Blueskin Farm is located on low hills to the west of Blueskin Bay, at 156 Manse Road. The farm supports patches of primary rimu-miro forest, secondary kanuka, a small but distinctive patch of heathland on Taratu Formation, and a LOT of gorse! Geological diversity is high, with volcanic, schist, conglomerate, and sedimentary substrates, and this has resulted in a relatively high diversity of native plants. Native birds are common and there are banded kokopu in the stream. We will be primarily looking at the native forest components, and with any luck the orchids will be out, if not flowering. About 120 indigenous plant species and 50 exotics have been recorded, and a list of these will be provided. Keen botanists are welcome to extend these lists, and we will hopefully make some forays into parts of the forest that have not yet been explored. Some parts of the forest are soft and slippery so wear appropriate footwear, and sensible, weather-proof clothing. If the weather is good we can boil the billy at lunchtime. Gorse makes excellent firewood! Your hosts will be Kelvin Lloyd and Beatrice Lee. Meet at the Botany Department carpark at 9 a.m., or at 156 Manse Road at 9:30 a.m.

Beech forest fungi

A talk by Dr David Orlovich, The University of Otago. A slide show and research talk highlighting the beautiful fungi that grow in Nothofagus forests in NZ. At the Zoology Benham Building, 346 Great King Street, behind the Zoology car park by the Captain Cook Hotel. Use the main entrance of the Benham Building to get in and go to the Benham Seminar Room, Rm. 215, 2nd floor. Please be prompt as we have to hold the door open.

Spring Fungal and Lichen Foray

A two day trip to collect lichens and fungi in the Catlins, following on from our very successful Autumn trip. We'll do the Catlins River walk from the Tawanui Camp Ground end on Saturday and from the Chloris Stream end on Sunday. Leaders, David Orlovich and Allison Knight. Accommodation on Saturday night will be at Nugget Point Lighthouse Keepers house (numbers limited). Day trippers are welcome to join us on either day. To reserve accommodation or find out more contact David Orlovich by Wednesday 16 September. Leave from Botany carpark at 9.00 am Saturday.