An arboretum is a plantation of mixed species, established for comparative and educational purposes. Numerous arboreta were established in the ACT during the early stages of the city’s development. See the FACTA website for more information:
‘Friends of the ACT Arboreta’ .
Last month, Jon Stanhope MLA, Chief Minister made the decision to give the STEP Project the resources needed to make our vision a reality within the Arboretum. We wish to thank him for his trust and belief in our vision. And we wish to thank every one of our members who have supported STEP during the last seven years. Your efforts have been vital to creating our project. Please keep your support for us going through the next phase.
A warmest thank you to the individuals who helped including Geoff Robertson, David Shorthouse, Andy Russell, Warren Saunders, Seeds and Plants Australia, Hanna Jaireth, Margaret Ning, Jonathon Banks, Mary Porter, Mick Gentleman, Brian Cumberland, Greening Australia, Michel Bedingfield, Sarah Fethers, CSIRO Australian Seeds Centre, environment ACT, Maxine Cooper, Sarah Sharp, Jo Walker, Rainer Rehwinkel, NPS, Lainie Shorthouse, Jocelyn Plovits, Sherry McArdle-English, Shirley Pipitone, Alan Ford, Ingrid Adler, An Van den Borre, Paul Jannsens and many more…
When STEP was first offered a site at the International Arboretum, there were three possible blocks to choose, Block 100. 101 and 102.
After receiving advice, from John Nightingale, a well known Canberra horticulturalist and landscape designer, we selected the Block 100, for stage 1, being very happy to take his excellent advice. John drafted a report comparing the three sites and recommended that the Committee select Block 100 for the first stage of the STEP project. This became the basis for our discussions with the Executive Director for the Arboretum Project in 2007.
David Shorthouse, Warren Saunders and Cathy Robertson went on site at Block 100 with Adam Burgess, the Curator for the Arboretum on 23 December 2008 to discuss the preparation and planting requirements for Block 100.
By Wurmbea
Many people have asked us why STEP has partnered with the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens? Our relationship with the Arboretum began in 2006, when the ACT Standing Committee on Planning and the Environment commenced public consultations for Shaping Our Territory, with a view to formulating future planning controls for the ACT.
15 March 2009 will be the first open day at the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens giving members of the public an exciting opportunity to experience the unique 250 hectare park, just five minutes from the centre of Canberra.
The task of preparing for the planting 12 species of Eucalyptus trees and 541 trees in total on Block 100 has commenced in accordance with the Arboretum’s landscape architects’ (Taylor Cullity and Lathlean’s) planting design.
In stage 1, twelve different tree species and a total of 541 trees, will be planted in autumn 2009.
Geoff Robertson has devoted many hours to researching a planting plan for the STEP concept. Geoff has prepared a draft tree planting plan for the STEP garden using David Keith’s NSW Vegetation Classification.Basically he has noted the dominant and associate trees for the ecosystems of the Southern Tablelands to devise a plan to show what trees to plant and where. Meanwhile Sarah Sharp has been working on an ACT classification framework. When this is available Geoff will check the STEP design for compatibility with the ACT framework. Later this design will be developed further for the understorey components of the garden. To find the plan go to Eucalypts of STEP.