FROM THE CHAIRMAN
O
n 17 March, sadly, the doors to the Foundation & Friends Cottage and the Growing Friends Nursery were closed, our volunteer roles suspended, and all events and exhibitions postponed or cancelled. Our team is observing all social distancing practices, working from home, to pivot the organisation and keep us viable during these unprecedented times. All costs have been minimised where possible. We are a small charity, and the effects of
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THE GARDENS WINTER 2020
the pandemic have certainly been felt, with all our revenue-raising activities cancelled for the foreseeable future. As the world continues to adapt to this new way of living, with physical interaction restricted, it is important for us to retain our cherished lines of communication with our members and the broader community, including the ongoing distribution of The Gardens magazine, in order to keep familiarity and comfort within our everyday lives. Our magazine is loved as a member
“We mu st re ma i n i n n ovative, a gile a n d lea n where we ca n” benefit, and although we will not be dispensing with the printed magazine, we must remain innovative, agile and lean where we can at this time. Our new digital magazine offers us many untapped opportunities as a new portal to share information about Foundation & Friends and the Botanic Gardens with the world. Technology will help us reach further, making it possible for us to connect and communicate with a broader community. Whether you are a longstanding Foundation & Friends member or someone who is reading about the organisation for the first time, we invite you to embrace this change. We welcome any feedback you may have for us. It is through connectivity and sharing of information that we can reinforce the strength of our community, and in time, return to a ‘new normal’ together. While this winter will be a season of hibernation for us, the work of the
