Recent Events

Regular guided walks will resume from 17 August after being cancelled for many months due to COVID-19. A lot has happened in the Gardens over the last 6 months and there is little evidence now of the terrible damage done during the hailstorm in January. The new Banksia Garden is open to visitors although some of the planting is being delayed until more favourable conditions return in Spring.

Initially guided walks will be limited to the 11.00am walk only, and walk numbers will be strictly limited to 2 family groups with a maximum of 10 people, Strict social distancing will apply and walks will be planned to accommodate this. Walks will start under the clock near the rainforest bridge.

From 17th to the 23rd August brighten your winter day and discover the spectacular colours of leaves, bark, flowers and seeds in the Gardens on a Colour in Winter walk, while from 29th August to the 6th September you can join a Volunteer Guide on a Wattle Walk and hear about the symbolism and cultural history of the beautiful flower which is our national floral emblem.

Living with Armillaria: a botanic gardens perspective. Speaker: Philip Hurle, Horticultural Manager, Australian National Botanic Gardens. A webinar in the Botanic Gardens Biosecurity Webinar Series.  Registrations to attend the webinars on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/103293967036.

This walk is now fully booked, and has a large waiting list.

This year is not only the 50^th Anniversary of Black Mountain being declared a conservation reserve, but also the 20^th Anniversary of the official opening of the Summit Walk, and the 50^th Anniversary of the ANBG being officially opened to the public.

In the afternoon, join local plant ecologist Michael Doherty for a walk up the north-eastern slopes of Black Mountain to the summit. We will be talking about trees, shrubs and fire, and see some winter flowering plants.

Meet: Caswell Drive entry on the mountain side.

Drive from Belconnen Way southwards along Caswell Drive towards Glenloch Interchange, Woden, or Tuggeranong. Note the yellow diamond shape advisory sign showing access road on left (mountain side) and the blue and white “P” sign for parking. Pull into the carpark carefully. Look for banners.

Bring:  Everyone is welcome. On this occasion, please, bring your own morning coffee or tea and snacks.  We do have some tools, but please feel free to bring your own tools if you have them, e.g. secateurs, small digging tool, lopper, and/or pruning saw.  

Please book: if you are planning to come, please email your name and phone number to friendsofblackmountain@gmail.com or  phone 0437 298 711.  This helps us to let you know if arrangements need to change at the last minute (for example, adverse weather conditions).