APS NSW Quarterly Gathering, Hosted by Northern Beaches, 15 March 2025: Talk - Australian Rainforests

The APS Northern Beaches Group will host the APS March Quarterly Meeting on 15 March 2025 at the North Curl Curl Community Hall.

Guest Speaker – Paul Nicholson
At 1:00 pm, Paul Nicholson, Manager of Volunteer Programs at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney, will deliver an engaging talk about Australian Rainforests. Many APS members have previously enjoyed Paul’s insightful presentations at the Royal Botanic Gardens, where he has led bespoke tours for APS specialist groups. Paul’s expertise spans all Australian plants, with a special interest in rainforest species and their Gondwana connections.

Paul has worked for over 20 years as a horticulturist at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney including curating the Australian Rainforest Garden. He also has qualification in history and heritage management, with a particular interest in the history of the Big Scrub rainforest in northern NSW.

Synopsis

Australian rainforests are dynamic, resilient ecosystems that occupy less than one percent of the continent but are centres for biodiversity, and refugia for many ancient flowering and non-flowering plant lineages. Our remnant rainforests are also threatened by land clearing, introduced diseases and climate change. This talk will give an overview of their ecological history before focusing on projects at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney aimed at conserving and restoring Australian Rainforests.

Guided Nursery Tour and Dune Walk
Before the talk, Michael Kneipp from Northern Beaches Council will lead a guided tour of the North Curl Curl nursery and the nearby dunes, showcasing significant bush regeneration efforts. The walk will begin at 10:00 am from the North Curl Curl Community Hall.

Lunch and Attendance Fee

Cost: $5, payable by card only at the door.
You are welcome to bring your own lunch to eat in the hall before the meeting, from 12 noon. Tea and coffee available.

We look forward to a wonderful day of learning and connection—see you there! Enquiries to apsnorthernbeaches@gmail.com