In stage 1, twelve different tree species and a total of 541 trees, will be planted in autumn 2009.
News
News from the STEP garden
Planning for Block 100’s understorey
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
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
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
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.
Membership of the STEP Committee in 2008/9
A new committee was elected at the STEP AGM on 1 December 2008. Thank you to the outgoing committee members for their support over the past year and to the new for their commitment to STEP.
Friends of the International Arboretum and Gardens
First newsletter for Friends of the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens (CIAG)
Chief Minister writes to encourage STEP
STEP has been in discussions with the Chief Minister’s Office since March 2007 to establish a regional botanic park in association with the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens (CIAG).
STEP has 50 members in 2008
STEP membership is currently 50 people committed to the development of the STEP project. Please tell your friends about us and get them to join. We will be planting on the the first STEP block in the Arboretum this coming spring and need lots of volunteers to help us. The membership form and other information are on this website.
Volunteer for STEP
At the moment STEP is developing its plan for a botanic garden at the International Arboretum and Gardens, Canberra. STEP would welcome volunteers with financial, public speaking and writing skills. People with a knowledge of ecosystems , botanic gardens, etc could also be of great assistance. To make inquiries contact Cathy Robertson at limestone@grapevine.com.au