The Master Plan for the STEP forest includes a small education space. Planning for this space commenced in 2012 and on-ground work began in early 2014.
A concept design for the space was prepared in 2013 by Amalie Shawcross during a period of work with the National Arboretum Canberra as part of the ACT Government’s Graduate Program.
The design outlines a low impact and low cost space that provides a comfortable and accessible area with a wide-ranging outlook. Download concept design for the education space here.
In early 2014 STEP commenced work to develop the education space. It demonstrates our partnership with the National Arboretum Canberra and is partly funded from the ACT Government’s Environment Grant Program. STEP supervised the project and volunteers assisted and undertook landscaping that integrates the facility with the surrounding eucalypt trees. The education space will assist conduct of visits by school students and others to Forest 20, and will also be available generally to visitors to the National Arboretum Canberra.
STEP has named the new facility ‘The Clearing’ which reflects its future place within a forest of eucalyptus trees. ‘The Clearing’ was formally opened by the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Shane Rattenbury MLA on 20 February 2015. Mr Rattenbury and the Presidents of the Australian Native Plant Society (ACT) and Friends of Grasslands each planted a native pine tree (Callitris endlicheri) at the rear of ‘The Clearing’.
This slideshow consists of photographs taken during the construction of the Education Space