News published: 21 July 2026

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 the Climate Change Alliance of Botanic Gardens (CCABG) on Wednesday 12 Aug 2026, 9:00 – 9:30 am AEST for a special presentation on Amy’s work in this niche aspect of plant conservation.