STEP has been in discussions with the Chief Minister’s Office since March 2007 to establish a regional botanic park in association with the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens (CIAG).
News
News from the STEP garden
STEP has 50 members in 2008
STEP membership is currently 50 people committed to the development of the STEP project. Please tell your friends about us and get them to join. We will be planting on the the first STEP block in the Arboretum this coming spring and need lots of volunteers to help us. The membership form and other information are on this website.
Volunteer for STEP
At the moment STEP is developing its plan for a botanic garden at the International Arboretum and Gardens, Canberra. STEP would welcome volunteers with financial, public speaking and writing skills. People with a knowledge of ecosystems , botanic gardens, etc could also be of great assistance. To make inquiries contact Cathy Robertson at limestone@grapevine.com.au
Committee Meetings
STEP holds regular committee meetings on the first Monday of each month. Members and guests are invited.
The meetings are held at the Conservation Council Building on Childers St Canberra City.
Ring Cathy Robertson to check on the date of the next meeting if you plan to come on 02 62571951
Minutes of the meeting 13 June 2007
The Minutes of the STEP Committee meeting held 13 June 2007 are now available for download.
STEP site in International Arboretum and Gardens
Comparison of Blocks 100, 101 and 102 for the purpose of the design and construction of the Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park, Stage 1.
Minutes of Meeting 4 April 2007
Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park Inc Minutes of the Committee Meeting held at Seeds and Plants Australia 8 Beltana Road Pialligo on 4 April 2007 at 5.30 pm
Veg Communities of the Southern Tablelands
Vegetation classification
- The vegetation classification in the table below (which I hope you will take some time to study) in column 1 shows the Veg structure and classes. (Sarah Sharp, Plant Ecologist with Environment ACT has provided assistance byeviewing this information for me and her contirbution is gratefully acknowledged.)
STEP has 62 members in 2007
STEP membership is increasing following a membership drive in late 2006, STEP membership has risen to 62 members. More support still is needed to support our new venture at the International Arboretum.
STEP Activities
As it develops the Arboretum Project STEP will be conducting a number of regular activities including weeding and planting days, and seminars and seminars and field trips. In the past, STEP has run a number of workshops to develop aspects of STEP strategy and resources, and on 28 August 2005 conducted a workshop with Friends of Grasslands on the topic Leaf, Feather Fur and Scale Workshop exploring the relationship between Southern Tablelands and their bird mammal and reptile inhabitants. In the meantime, STEP has focused on developing a project proposal to establish the botanic garden and recovery centre at the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens site.
Many Canberra-region conservation groups such as the Australian Native Plants Society, Friends of the Grasslands,ACT Herpertological Association, and Canberra Field Naturalists have events that are highly relevant to learning about the SouthernTablelands ecosystems, their plants and animals, and their recovery, andSTEP members are encourages to participate in thses acitivities.
This website will flag activities put on by other groups which may be of interest to STEP members who wish to increase thier understanding of ecosystems of the Southern Tablelands, Botanic Gardens abd related horticultural activities.