Marsh Awards - Amy Downie, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

The Marsh Charitable Trust was established in 1981 and runs a portfolio of awards which recognise the contribution of dedicated individuals working in different sectors – to improve the world we live in.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV) Horticulturist Amy Downie won the 2026 Marsh Award for International Plant Conservation for her work in Escarpment Horticulture – a unique blend of abseiling, specialist horticulture and conservation science. Amy has developed this rare skillset to access cliff-dwelling species that are otherwise unreachable, enabling both in situ and ex situ conservation outcomes that would not be possible through conventional methods. At the RBGV, Amy has transformed the Grey Garden escarpment from an underperforming niche rocky outcrop into a thriving conservation site. Her meticulous planning including geological assessment, irrigation design and targeted weed management has created a resilient microhabitat now home to rare and threatened grey cliff dwelling species.

Join us for a special presentation on her work in this niche aspect of plant conservation.

The link will be shared closer to the date.

To keep you busy until then, previous Horticulture Forums can be viewed here - https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/initiatives/climate-change-alliance/horticulture-forums-publications/

What climate adaptation work are you doing? We want to showcase your efforts and are taking applications to present at our Horticulture Forums. Celebrate your achievements and share the insights you've learned in your climate adaptation journey. For further information please contact us as climatechangealliance@rbg.vic.gov.au 

We would love to hear from you.

On behalf of the Secretariat,

Tessa Kum