FROM ASHES TO ARBORETUM
106 | May• 2019
forconservation,scientificresearch
andeducationalpurposes.“From
theashesofsomethingterriblegrew
thisworld-classfacility,”saysScott
Saddler,directoroftheNational
ArboretumCanberra.
Currently44,000rare,endangered
andsymbolictreesfromAustralia
andaroundtheworldaregrowing
across 250 hectares.
Selectedbyanexpertpanel,the
treeswerechosenfortheirconser-
vationstatus,symbolicnatureand
aestheticvalue;somefortheirout-
standingseasonalcolour,others
because they provide habitat for
Australiannativewildlife.Butmost
importantlyofall,theyhadtobe
abletocopewithCanberra’svery
coldandfrosty winters and hot, dry
summers.I N2 0 0 7,thefirstfourforestswere
planted,onecomprisingtheAus-
tralianthreatenedspeciesCamden
WhiteGum(Eucalyptusbenthamii),
anotherthecriticallyendangered
WollemiPine(Wollemianobilis) – a
treethoughttohavedisappeared
100 millionyearsagobeforeitwas
discoveredinforestsnearSydneyin- Fewer than 100 mature Wollemi
Clockwisefromleft:the100-year-oldCorkOakforest;thesharpspiky leaves of
the Monkey Puzzle in focus; atop Dairy Farmer’s HillPHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES; DIANE GODLEY