STEP Tree Planting Ceremony

On the 15th of March STEP hosted a tree planting ceremony at the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens on Block 100. The first tree was planted by the Chief Minister, John Stanhope, followed by students from a Evatt Primary School, members from the planning committee of the ACT House of Assembly and STEP members and friends.

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What is an Arboretum?

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’ .

STEP thanks supporters

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.

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Thanks to all the individuals who…

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…

Landscape Designer Assesses Block 100

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. 

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Ground Breaking Decisions for Block 100

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.

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STEP’s partnership with the Arboretum?

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. 

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Festival of the Forests 2009

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.

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No clover in Block 100

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.

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