Keith – Page 10 – Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park

Landscape Designer Assesses Block 100

29 January 202122 February 2009 by Keith

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.

Ground Breaking Decisions for Block 100

29 January 202122 February 2009 by Keith

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.

STEP’s partnership with the Arboretum?

29 January 202122 February 2009 by Keith

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.

Festival of the Forests 2009

29 January 202122 February 2009 by Keith

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.

No clover in Block 100

29 January 202122 February 2009 by Keith

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.

Twelve Eucalyptus Species on Block 100

29 January 202122 February 2009 by Keith

In stage 1, twelve different tree species and a total of 541 trees, will be planted in autumn 2009.

Planning for Block 100’s understorey

29 January 202122 February 2009 by Keith

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.

Yellow Box, STEP’s feature tree

29 January 202122 February 2009 by Keith

For our first issue, we have chosen as our feature, Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora), which is one of five key species, in the endangered ecological Yellow Box Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland.

Ceremonial Tree Planting

29 January 202122 February 2009 by Keith

Sunday 15 March at 10.00 am

The Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park Inc (STEP), invites members and friends to join with Jon Stanhope MLA, ACT Chief Minister, and the Friends of the International Arboretum and Gardens, to celebrate STEP’s first ceremonial planting at Block 100 in the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens (CIAG) at 10am on Sunday 15 March.

STEP receives seeds from Greening Australia

29 January 20219 January 2009 by Keith

On 3 January STEP was very pleased to receive a gift of seeds for E. viminalis and E. dives from ACT Greening Australia . Thank you GA for your support. Especial thanks to Brian Cumberland.