Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens supervisor explores Mt Hotham’s unique flora

Mt Hotham, a biodiversity hotspot, was recently visited by John Mitchell, supervisor of the Alpine department of the prestigious Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens, which includes managing the world famous Rock Garden, woodland garden and alpine section, as part of a broader familiarisation with Australia’s diverse ecology.

Working at the Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens has enabled Mitchell to expand his knowledge of alpine regions worldwide, including areas such as China, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Siberia.

“Having been to these places, I have been asked to give lectures all round the world in America, Europe, China, Central Asia, New Zealand and Australia,” Mitchell shared.

“Last year I was contacted to see if I would give a lecture at the Alpine Garden Society Victorian Group 50th Anniversary. Having never been to Australia I jumped at the chance to visit and speak to the group and see some of the area.

“The last part of my trip was going to see the Australian flora in its natural habitat. I must admit that before I came to Australia I knew a bit about the flora but I did not know that much and I was blown away by the diverse range of species which I did not expect to see here. First on the list was Mt Hotham and we were very privileged to meet up with Bev Lawrence, the matriarch of Mt Hotham.”

Bev Lawrence is Environmental Officer at Mt Hotham Resort Management and after almost 25 years caring for Mt Hotham’s unique environment, there’s not much she doesn’t know about it.

Lawrence is the ‘go to’ person for Mt Hotham’s locals, safely removing native small mammals from lodges, advising property owners about non-toxic methods of pest control, and sharing her extensive knowledge of the local flora. Lawrence was one of the creators of the Mt Hotham Flora Guide, one of the best mountain-specific flora resources available.

Mitchell was lucky to visit on a clear day, allowing him to fully appreciate the wonder of Mt Hotham’s stunning scenery.

Mitchell added “The drive up to the top of the mountain was breathtaking - driving up through the Eucalyptus and hearing of the devastating wildfire that swept through the whole area made it very emotional, thinking of the devastation to everyone.

“When we reached the top I was blown away by the views of the Alps and the vastness of the area. Bev picked us up and we visited a very special plant which flowers once the snow starts to melt - Psychrophila introloba (the rare and endangered Alpine Marsh Marigold, previously Caltha introloba).

“The Australian version is up there with all the other Calthas that I have seen in China. This plant was the highlight of the whole trip. On the way back we saw more endemics like Astelia and Podocarpus, which we grow a few of in Edinburgh.”

The Australian Alps have some similarities to the Scottish alpine regions – they are a similar altitude, rising up to a maximum altitude of about 3000 metres. These areas are facing similar challenges to those of the Australian alpine regions.

“Like all parts of the world, global warming is taking its toll on alpine areas, as with warmer temperatures the snow is retracting and sometimes no snow is falling in areas that used to be snow-covered, which will affect plant species. Eventually these plants will be more vulnerable and possibly become extinct,” continued Mitchell.

He believes that botanic gardens and other agencies that preserve species and collect seeds are essential for conservation of threatened species.

“It was nice to visit the Victorian Alps Nursery, which plays an important conservation role collecting seeds from alpine and sub-alpine areas. The Nursery is instrumental in revegetation projects which the alpine resorts have in place to keep the environment in excellent condition.”

When pressed to name his favourite part of the trip, the answer is obvious.

“I love being above the clouds in the alpine zones and the Victorian alps was the highlight,” he admits.

“Seeing your unique flora on Mt Hotham, walking in snow and seeing the alpine gums will be up there as one of my favourite places I have been. My main message when I get back home is that people must put Melbourne and the Victorian alps on their top three places to visit as they will blow you away.”