This event is sold out.
See the world’s largest endangered orchid rewilding program with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Orchid Conservation Program shadehouses.
Orchids are among our most beautiful and intriguing native wildflowers, with Victoria home to over 400 species, most of which grow nowhere else in the world. Sadly, however, half of our native orchid species are threatened with extinction in the wild.
The RBGV Orchid Conservation Program grows threatened orchids and plants them back out into the bush to create new wild populations and reduce their risk of extinction. Underpinning this work, the Program undertakes cutting-edge scientific research on all aspects of orchid ecology, including on pollination, symbiotic fungi, propagation methods, and reintroduction science.
We aim to prevent future orchid extinctions by:
- Storing a genetically diverse collection of seed and symbiotic fungi
- Growing suitable numbers of our threatened orchids for reintroductions
- Reintroducing these species to protected public and private land, where the appropriate vegetation, climate and insect pollinators are present.
For the first time, the nurseries of the RBGV Orchid Conservation Program are being opened to the public to showcase endangered orchids up close. Our world-leading scientists and horticulturists will explain the important work and intricate science behind this exemplary conservation program. You will have the chance to photograph critically endangered species rarely seen in the wild.
Please note that the minimum age of attendees on this tour is 12 years old.
