A rare opportunity to hear one of Australia’s most distinguished botanists

THE Hunter Region Botanic Gardens is bringing one of Australia’s most respected botanical minds to Newcastle next week, offering local gardeners, nature lovers and conservation enthusiasts the chance to hear first-hand from Professor Tim Entwisle AO.

Professor Entwisle, whose career has taken him from researching freshwater algae to leading the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Melbourne and London’s famed Kew Gardens, will present Evergreen: A Botanical Life at the University of Newcastle on Friday, 7 August.

The event reflects the growing role regional botanic gardens play in connecting communities with science, conservation and the natural environment.

Professor Entwisle said his own career began almost by accident.

“When I saw a drawing of inside a plant cell projected in my first-year botany lecture, I was hooked,” he said.

“Up until then I was a maths and physics nerd, having never studied biology at secondary school, but after that lecture I dropped almost everything but botany in my next two years of university.”

That fascination eventually led to directing some of the world’s leading botanic gardens and becoming one of Australia’s best-known science communicators.

Professor Entwisle believes community gardens such as the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens have become increasingly important as people seek stronger connections with nature.

“Botanic gardens today are places of nature, science and culture,” he said.

“Visitors are still attracted to them by the beauty of the landscapes and the plant collections, but behind the scenes plant science and horticulture support the conservation of our native flora.”

He said gardens like the Hunter’s also played an important educational role.

“Good botanic gardens, like Hunter Region Botanic Gardens, use these collections, the beautiful landscapes and the knowledge of volunteers and staff to promote the importance of plants in our lives and the need to care for them and the planet.”

Professor Entwisle also advocates for public events that encourage people to spend time in nature while recognising the deep connections First Australians have with Australia’s native flora.

Despite decades at the forefront of botanical science, he hopes audiences leave with one simple message.

“Plants are not only essential to life on earth, but they are fascinating to study and cultivate as part of a life-long career,” he said.

“The biggest surprise might be that I started university having never studied biology and having little interest in plants.”

Hosted by the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens in partnership with the University of Newcastle, the seminar begins at 6pm on Friday, 7 August.

By Jacie WHITFIELD