A new garden for Canberra's National Botanic Gardens

Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadis officially opened the new conservation and research garden in Canberra's botanic gardens in Acton.

Decked out in colourful rain coats and gardening gloves, he was assisted by a group of tiny gardeners to mark the launch.

The new garden features a living colleciton of threatened plant species, and gives visitors a first-hand look at the conservation work botanic gardens are involved in.

“The new garden contributes to the conservation of many threatened plants and by having these species here growing and thriving, acts as an insurance policy for the remaining plants surviving in the wild," said David Taylor from the National Botanic Gardens.

"The conservation and research garden is a great example of the important conservation work that botanic gardens across Australia and New Zealand are involved in and has been made possible by multiple partners working together to bring expertise in horticulture, science and seed production to secure the future of some of Australia’s rare and unique plants.”

The new garden has been opened as part of the upcoming Botanic Gardens Day on Sunday May 27, with all 70 gardens across Australia and New Zealand participating.

In Canberra on the day you can check out the gardens with special tours and events.

The National Botanic Gardens will also host a series of workshops on making bees wax wraps, an eco-friendly alternative to plastic food wrap, or you can get arty with local artists Jennifer and Phil from Wellspring
Environmental Arts and Design for a printing with plants workshop.

The workshops are ticketed and you have to book in advance - see parksaustralia.gov.au/botanic-gardens/do/whats-on.