Page 430 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 13 February 2013
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The arboretum is a place where trees are cultivated for conservation, scientific and educational study, display and preservation. The vision of the ACT government in establishing the National Arboretum Canberra is for it to become one of the great arboreta in the world. The aim is to provide a place for outstanding beauty of international standard and interest that is a destination and recreational resource for the local community and visitors to Canberra.
As we have heard, the National Arboretum Canberra will feature 100 forests of Australian natives and various rare and endangered trees from Australia and around the world. This concept redefines the meaning of a public arboretum for this 21st century. As it develops into the future it will become a significant recreational and educational asset, with an important role for sustainability, the protection of biodiversity and best practice in horticulture and water management.
Over 100 years ago, when Walter Burley Griffin designed Canberra, he envisaged, as part of the design, a continental arboretum, a place that would showcase iconic trees from all over the world. Burley Griffin’s vision of a world of trees did not eventuate until late 2003, when the ACT government saw the opportunity to make the original vision a reality. The design competition, as you are all aware, was held in May 2005, with the announcement made and the winning entry proposing the hundred forests and the hundred accompanying gardens.
The official opening was a centrepiece of the centenary of Canberra celebrations. It provided the ACT government with an opportunity to recognise and thank all those involved—particularly the Australian government, for their generous grant of $20 million towards key features within the arboretum. Those include the visitors centre, pavilion, children’s play space, central valley, and interpretive program.
The arboretum is working closely with the Friends of the National Arboretum to host guided tours and assist with event and general volunteering tasks. More than 150 people have participated in the Friends of the National Arboretum training program.
Another group that has been involved in the arboretum is the STEP group, the Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park group. A number of years ago I was involved with them in planting right down on the north-western end of the arboretum. The STEP group was formed in 2002 with the aim of establishing a demonstration native garden, a conservation and educational resource, in the heart of Canberra. STEP is now established at the National Arboretum, as we have heard, in forest No 20. STEP has planned a microcosm of the vegetation typical of the southern tablelands region of New South Wales and the ACT, which complements the arboretum’s mosaic of forest trees that are rare, endangered or have an ethno-botanical or symbolic value. Individuals, community groups, schools and others are welcome to visit or join this exciting program. Their website is www.step.asn.au.
Also at the arboretum we have the bonsai pavilion and the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia. It is a collection of some of the finest bonsai and penjing in Australia on permanent display. It has been functioning in its temporary home in Commonwealth Park since 2008. In that time, it has had over 320,000
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