Indigenous Plant Use walk at the Australian National Botanic Gardens

A huge thank you to Monty Nixon and Viv Pearce—Education Rangers at the Australian National Botanic Gardens and Executive Members of AAEE ACT—for leading a truly inspiring ANBG school’s program-Indigenous Plant Use on a beautiful Thursday afternoon. Monty began with a heartfelt Acknowledgement of Country, speaking not only to the importance of honouring the Traditional Custodians and caretakers of the land, but also to the deep, personal connection we feel to the places we love. Educators appreciated the hard work, as they ground wattle seeds, to produce a very small quantity of flour! Their spirits were uplifted as they smelt mint bush and lemon myrtle leaves which traditionally had many uses. As we gathered near the Rock Pool waterfall, a large water dragon lingered close by—almost as if it, too, was listening in. We passed around a beautifully crafted twined basket used for catching fish, connecting us to traditional practices and stories of the land. A quietness fell on the group as we listened and learned from Country traversing the dark and green rainforest. Thank you to everyone who joined us and shared their reflections—particularly around the Queensland bottle tree and the significance of tree hollows. We hope this experience inspires you to return with your school groups and explore the richness of this program with your students. Welcome also the new faces joining us for the first time at AAEE event..