Neville Bruce Bonney

Neville B. Bonney OAM (born in 1939 ) is a South Australian pioneering native plant expert, ethnobotanist and published author of some 20 texts on Australian native plants (see bibliography).

A seed collector, plant propagator and has previously owned and operated a native plant nursery , he has extensive knowledge in farming plants for timber, flowers, wild foods, firewood and other purposes.

In 2021 he published From One Small Seed a Forest Is Born, a comprehensive guide to Australian native plants and their seeds, covering more than 700 species from 63 families and 240 genera.

His most recent book Ancient Flora of the Northern Flinders Ranges, was published in 2023 and focused on South Australia's desert flora.

Bonney is an advocate for the commercialisation of "useful" indigenous flora, including wattleseed and has promoted the production and development of markets for "bush foods" in Australia and beyond.

In 2023 Bonney was a recipient of the South Australian Environment Awards Lifetime Achiever, and in February 2024 he was featured in Indaily in an article covering his life and work.

In 2026 Bonney was awarded an OAM for his service to conservation and the environment, and to the community.

As an in-demand speaker and educator, Neville continues to engage community across the country on seed collection, local plant identification, and commercial and traditional uses for native plants