Support the Gardens

The Friends is a vital part of the Gardens’ life and helps to make a wide range of projects possible.

What we’ve achieved - projects supported by the Friends include

research into cultivating the Wollemi Pine
the 'Sex and Death' exhibition in the Tropical Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens
the Margaret Flockton Award for Excellence in Botanical Illustration
wayfinding and interpretive signage at all three Gardens
creating the Rare & Threatened Plants Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens
upgrading the playground at Mount Annan
building a pedestrian bridge across Bells Line of Road at Mount Tomah
and more …

You can support the Botanic Gardens Trust in a way that suits you.

Friends' volunteers

If you’d like to offer your time, and join the team, become a Friends’ volunteer.
Join one of the teams that staff our Information Booth, provide refreshments for Friends’ activities, propagate plants and more …

You can donate by phone, fax or post. Any donation of $2 and over is tax deductible. Waratah members make an annual donation on top of their membership fee. This means the Friends can commit funding to major projects which might not otherwise be possible.

Click here to find out about donations to the Friends of The Gardens.

Click here to find out about other types of donations to support the Botanic Gardens Trust.

Buy our cards

Send a greeting with a special card - Friends of The Gardens’ popular Christmas and correspondence cards feature stunning photos and original artwork by internationally renowned botanical artists. See the new Friends' calendar for 2009.

Growing Friends - weekly plant sales

Plants propagated by the ‘Growing Friends’ volunteers are for sale most Mondays to Fridays, from 11.30 am to 2 pm. The Growing Friends' nursery is also open on the second Saturday of each month from 9 am-1 pm.

Plant sales & pre-loved book sales

Major plant sales are held each autumn and spring, with book sales each autumn. For details see events & activities. The spring 2008 plant sale is at Mount Annan Botanic Garden, Saturday 18 October, 10 am-3 pm. There is also a special opening in conjunction with Artisans in the Gardens at the Sydney Growing Friends' nursery on Saturday 25 October, 9 am-4 pm.

Art & craft exhibitions

In autumn each year the Friends presents an exhibition of fine botanical illustration, and in spring each year an exhibition of artisans work in a variety of media, on themes of plants and nature. For details see the Friends' Calendar of special events.

Friends' activities

Experts and enthusiasts give their time to speak and lead walks for the Friends. Money raised through your bookings contributes to the funds donated by the Friends to the Botanic Gardens Trust.

All the Friends' activities are listed in our calendar each quarter, and in the appropriate calendar under Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain, Mount Annan Botanic Garden or Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens.

Helping Hands - hands-on help

Members can also support the Botanic Gardens Trust by joining the ‘Helping Hands’. Helping Hands is a member privilege - an opportunity to do simple tasks in the Gardens under the supervision of horticultural staff. Dates for Helping Hands’ mornings are listed in the Diary of activities in The Gardens magazine, and on each season's booking form.