Be an early bird – register before 31 July!

Hurry…time is running out for early bird registration! Visit the Congress registration page now and complete your registration online in order to take advantage of the lower registration rate.

Remember, BGCI members have discounted fees!

Congress programme

The programme which is still in development is now on the Congress website together with the congress schedule. Packed with fascinating papers, workshops and posters from colleagues all around the world, this is a botanic garden education congress not to miss!

If you would still like to present at the Congress, please contact Julia at Cet e-mail est protégé contre les robots collecteurs de mails, votre navigateur doit accepter le Javascript pour le voir .

Questions about registration and accommodation?

Nicola Dixon is our newly appointed representative at Conference Call. Nicky will be handling accommodation, registration and payment queries. E-mail: Cet e-mail est protégé contre les robots collecteurs de mails, votre navigateur doit accepter le Javascript pour le voir .

Recent happenings at the Durban Botanic Gardens

	Gold at Chelsea We are proud as a City to have been awarded Gold for the first time for our stand at the recent Chelsea Flower Show in the UK, one of the world's most prestigious horticultural events. Our City's stand showcased the diversity of plants from the different climatic zones of our province, KwaZulu-Natal.
Biodiversity & human wellbeing The Durban Botanic Gardens has been running a successful range of permaculture courses for school learners, home and community gardeners. We are looking forward to sharing ideas with you about how permaculture can potentially influence botanic garden education practice, challenging us to think and act more holistically.
Climate Smart Durban is gearing up for the 2010 World Football Cup that will take place next year and a new state of the art stadium is nearly completed. The City’s Environmental Management Department has embarked on an ambitious Climate Smart Programme in an attempt to off-set the carbon footprint created by the World Cup. Smart projects include a major tree planting campaign around the City’s new land fill site as well as a Green Roof pilot project that will bring biodiversity into the heart of the city. The roof will utilize 30 different plant species that will attract a range of animals. The temperature, runoff and species diversity data are being collected as part of the project, with the purpose of encouraging further green roofs throughout the city. For more information please contact Meggan Lewis Cet e-mail est protégé contre les robots collecteurs de mails, votre navigateur doit accepter le Javascript pour le voir .

We look forward to seeing you in Durban in November

Best wishes,
The Organising Committee

Spread the word!

There has been a great response to the congress so far, with people signing up to this update and submitting great ideas for presentations. If you know of anyone who would like to participate, please pass this email on.

Sign up for email updates here

Let’s communicate in IsiZulu

A few useful phrases:

Hello to more than one person - Sanibona (phonetic, sunny bor na)
How are you? - Ninjani? (nin jar ni)
We are fine - Sisaphila (seesa peela)
Thank you - Ngiyabonga (ngeeya bonga)
I come from... - Ngiphuma (ngee poorma; in Zulu, "ph" is pronounced "p")
Yes - Yebo (year bo)
No - Cha (click sound on "c" behind the teeth as if annoyed, in this case !t aa)

Put them in your diary, start practising and use them when you arrive in Durban.  You'll be complimented.  They're not difficult.  More useful phrases in the next eNewsletter.

Interpretation practice in South Africa

A new social networking Ning site has been developed for South African Interpretation practitioners as a result of a recent training workshop held in Durban, South Africa in June this year. As a lead up to our Congress, we welcome input and ideas on this forum. To find out more please visit http://sharenature.ning.com.