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Celebrating A Living Collection

Exhibition Notes These notes are available at nationalarboretum.act.gov.au

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The National Arboretum Canberra is a living collection of 44,000 rare, endangered and symbolic trees from Australia and around the world. "The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago; the next best time is now." _ old Chinese proverb. 1. Primary school students fascinated by the miniature living sculptures in the National Bonsai

and Penjing Collection. Photo by L. Taafe, 2015.

This world-class collection of native and exotic bonsai and penjing features some of the finest miniature trees and forests in the world, created by many of Australia's leading bonsai and penjing artists. Bonsai and penjing are magical living artworks, shaped over time to reflect trees or landscapes in nature, tell a story, and create a sense of calm and peacefulness. About 80 bonsai and penjing trees and forests are on display, in a variety of traditional and modern styles. The Collection also includes a unique display of Suiseki, or viewing stones, collected from nature.

2. Mediterranean red bud flowers and new leaves in Forest 31, Cercis siliquastrum, above the Events Terrace. Planted in 2008. Photo by L. Muldoon, 2010.

These small deciduous trees flower profusely before coming out in leaf in October. Native to the Middle East and southern Europe, the wood is hard with a beautiful grain and used for veneers.

3. Let us lead you down the garden path...Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park (STEP) in Forest 20 is a thriving regional botanic garden of native trees and plants typical of the Southern Highlands. Photo by A. Russell, 2016.

Unlike most other forests in the Arboretum, STEP features 16 different types of eucalypt trees and hundreds of understorey shrubs, herbs, grasses and ferns. A not-for-profit community organisation, STEP also focuses on ecosystem and conservation education.

4. Their Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, met members of the Canberra community and planted an English oak tree, Quercus robur, at the Arboretum on 24th April 2014. Photo by L. Taafe.

5. “Come and Join Us”. The Friends of the National Arboretum Canberra are a vibrant group of volunteers who support and enrich the ongoing development of the Arboretum. Photo by L. Muldoon, 2011.

The Friends provide guided walks, talks and tours, fund-raising, working bees, a harvesting group, research and more. They offer an excellent range of memberships, from simply making a donation or becoming a member, through to volunteering for hand-on activities.

6. Black shouldered kite, Elanus axillaris, at the Arboretum. Photo by A. Burgess, 2012.

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The Arboretum provides habitat for many different types of birds. Over time the number of bird species in the Arboretum and the numbers of individuals of many species have both increased (data from Canberra Ornithologists Group surveys and individual sightings). The composition of bird species is changing as the saplings grow and the site develops from exotic grassland to forests. As the trees grow they are becoming an important food source for many species - providing insects, pollen, nectar, fruits and nuts - as well as becoming a more appealing spot for birds to breed in.

Number of bird species sighted at the Arboretum 2009 to 2016

2009 40

2013 55

2014 72

2016 83

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Visions Past and Present

The 2003 bushfire that ravaged Canberra was the catalyst for the creation of the Arboretum, originally envisioned by the designer of Canberra, Walter Burley Griffin. Perry Lethlean, Director, Taylor Cullity Lethlean Landscape Architects outlines their 2004 design vision: ‘We wanted to create grand forests that offer unique and contrasting visitor experiences and hold a viable population to preserve vulnerable and endangered species, rather than a collection of individual specimen trees chosen purely for aesthetics.’

1. Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahoney’s 1915 design for the national capital included a continental arboretum. Plan courtesy of the National Archives of Australia.

2. An aerial view of the Arboretum in 2014,showing many of its forests, the Village Centre, the National Bonsai and Penjing Pavilion, Central Valley, the Amphitheatre, Events Terrace and the Margaret Whitlam Pavilion. Photo by J. Gollings.

3. An artist’s impression of the Open Gardens Australia Garden (OGAG), designed by Harris Hobbs 2015. Construction will begin in 2016 in the Gallery of Gardens at the western side of the Events Terrace.

4. Aerial view of the pre-existing Himalayan cedar forest, planted in 1917-30, surrounded by newly planted ‘baby’ forests of the Arboretum with the ‘wide brown land’ sculpture close by. Photo by J. Gollings, 2010.

5. Aerial view of the ANU Research Forests 98 and 99. This research project focuses on the effects of climate variability, climate change and water use in two different types of eucalypt trees, spotted gum, Corymbia maculata, and red ironbark, Eucalyptus tricarpa. Photo by J. Gollings, 2010.

The Australian National University Research Forests Two different tree species, spotted gum, Corymbia maculata, and red ironbark, Eucalyptus tricarpa, were chosen because they cope with low rainfall and drought in different ways. Spotted gum, Corymbia maculata, is a drought ‘avoider’ and uses an extensive root system to maintain its water intake, whereas red ironbark, Eucalyptus tricarpa, is a drought ‘tolerator’ and alters its metabolism to stop growing during drought. Irrigation to these trees in Forests 98 and 99 is being manipulated to simulate drought in this long term, detailed study on the adaptability, genetics, physiology and ecology of the Eucalyptus genus. The chief investigator is Associated Professor Cris Brack, Fenner School, Australian National University (ANU). Other investigators are Michael Roderick, Tim Brown and Justin Borovitz, Research School of Biology, ANU and Albert van Dijk, Fenner School, ANU. All data collected will be available online for research, outreach and educational use.

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Key research questions

How will these two different types of eucalypts respond to climate change with a drier climate and longer droughts, as projected to occur in many parts of Australia?

How much carbon do eucalypt forests sequester from the atmosphere?

Will eucalypt trees change their shape or the properties of their wood under different climate extremes?

How do eucalypts respond to moisture stress (tree physiology)?

Can we enhance the survival of eucalypts in a more variable climate (genetics)?

Research aims

Compare the growth and yield of two eucalypt species under various watering regimes.

Determine the below ground moisture and temperature environments under the different forests and watering regimes.

Allow the modelling of the response of eucalypts to varying climate scenarios, including more extreme rainfall patterns.

Technical advances in the development and use of variable scale sensor arrays in the field.

Improve the parameterisation of native tree growth and yield models.

6. The 2004 design concept for the National Arboretum, “100 Forests, 100 Gardens,” by Taylor Cullity Lethlean Landscape Architects and Tonkin Zulaika Greer Architects.

An important aspect of the 2004 '100 Forests, 100 Gardens' design concept was the designers' focus on threatened and rare trees, realised through a ‘tartan’ grid of one hundred forests of threatened and rare species from Australia and around the world. Background to the vision and design After the 2001 and 2003 bushfires ravaged the pine plantations growing around Canberra, the ACT Government consulted widely with the community and experts about the best use of the land. In 2003, the ACT Government agreed that the burnt-out pine forest area known as Green Hills would be preserved as an international arboretum. The proposal for a national arboretum also connected with Walter Burley Griffin's original plan for Canberra. Part of the intent was to symbolise the Canberra community's process of recovery from the shock and grief of the devastating fires. A national design competition for the new arboretum was launched in 2004 and in 2005 the former ACT Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope MLA, announced the winners as Tonkin Zulaika Greer

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Architects and Taylor Cullity Lethlean Landscape Architects with their ‘100 Forests, 100 Gardens’ joint entry. The vision's emphasis on threatened and rare trees has provided excellent opportunities to highlight the fact that many of the world's trees, often common in cultivation, are threatened in the wild. For some trees, it may also help to protect them through ex-situ conservation. The Arboretum's living collection also provides a valuable resource for ongoing research and education programs.

7. Looking northwest across the future Arboretum site after the 2001 bushfires. The National Zoo & Aquarium can be seen in the right hand side foreground. Photo by R. McRae, 2001.

8. Looking south across the future Arboretum site after the 2001 bushfires. The Himalayan cedar forest can be seen in the lower right hand corner. Photo by R. McRae, 2001.

9. &10. Flames from the giant 2003 fire storm engulf radiata pines on and near the site which is now the Arboretum. Photos by J. Lafferty, 2003.

11. & 12. The 2001 bushfires devastated many of the pine forests and nature reserves around Canberra. Photos by R. McRae, 2001.

13. A Kangaroo survives the catastrophic 2003 Canberra fires. Photo by J. Lafferty 2003.

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Transforming the Landscape

The Arboretum landscape has been dramatically reshaped by major earthworks since 2005 and continues to be transformed as new forests, gardens and infrastructure are created.

1. Preparing the site for construction of the Village Centre and the Events Terrace. Photo by E. Hawkes, 2010.

2. The two main buildings sit atop prominent spurs below the major hills, separated by a grassed amphitheatre. Photo by L. Muldoon, March 2013.

3. Looking south over the Arboretum in 2009. Note the Himalayan cedar forest in the mid foreground. Photo by G. Comfort.

4. Looking south over the Arboretum in 2010. Note the Himalayan cedar forest in the mid foreground. Photo by J. Gollings.

5. Aerial view of the National Arboretum in 2010. Note the site preparation for the construction of the Village Centre, Events Terrace and Margaret Whitlam Pavilion. Photo by G. Comfort.

6. Excavating and preparing the site for the large 37.2 megalitre capacity Ginkgo Dam. Photo by Kate Luke Photography, 2008.

The two main dams at the Arboretum – the large Ginkgo Dam and dam 2 in Forest 91 - are supplemented by water conservation and harvesting strategies including mulching, living ground covers, swales, leaking weirs, irrigation systems connected to a bore, and large storage and irrigation tanks.

7. Excavating the site for the Village Centre and Central Valley with explosives to break up the huge underground boulders, many of which are now used on site. Photo by E. Hawkes, 2010.

Large amounts of soil were removed from the construction of the Glenloch Interchange and used to create the terraced Central Valley, a reconfiguration of 40,000 cubic metres of earth over seven hectares; Australia's largest sculpted earthwork since the Sydney Olympics.

8. The picnic deck and pathways at the Himalayan cedar forest were two of the first structures to be built at the Arboretum and are well used by visitors. Photo by E. Hawkes, 2010

9. Digging a deep trench for pipes to service the Village Centre. Photo by E. Hawkes, 2012.

10. A Friend of the National Arboretum volunteer mulches the Chinese tulip trees in Forest 9. The Friends twice-weekly working bees help to keep the forests healthy and thriving. Photo by T. Hughes, 2015.

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Bold Buildings Stunning Sculptures

The Arboretum is home to two outstanding buildings with sweeping views, a fantastical play space and unique outdoor sculptures. At the heart of the Arboretum is the Village Centre, an elegant, light-filled building providing visitor orientation and facilities, together with the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection, Sprout Café, The Conservatory Restaurant and The Curatoreum gift store. The building won the World Architecture Festival for Landscape Award in 2014 and the Institute of Architects Award for ‘Best Public Building in the ACT’ in 2013.

1. Artist’s impression of the Visitors’ Centre from the ‘100 Forests, 100 Gardens’ submission to the national design competition by Tonkin Zulaika Greer Architects and Taylor Cullity Lethlean Landscape Architects, 2004.

2. North Deck of the Village Centre. Photo by J. Gollings 2014.

The Village Centre is open from 9 am to 4 pm daily (closed 25 December). It is available for hire from 4 pm daily for events with up to 500 guests seated and 900 guests standing. For enquiries, call Ginger Catering 02 6273 4366, email: info@gingercatering.com.au

Notes drawn from Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects: The Village Centre sits below the site’s main east-west ridge, overlooking the sculpted landform of the Central Valley and the adjoining forests. It focuses on the dramatic views southeast to Lake Burley Griffin and the city of Canberra, and southwest to the Brindabella Ranges and Australian Alps. It connects the car park with Pod Playground and Central Valley northwards and the Events Terrace, Amphitheatre, Margaret Whitlam Pavilion, gardens and pathways to the south. The exterior of the building is a sculptural form in the rolling topography of the site, contrasting low stone-clad wings with a high arching roof clad in weathered zinc, the form of which is inspired by the leaves of trees in the nearby forests. The building incorporates a range of energy-saving measures, supporting the environmental value of the Arboretum as a whole, with a very low-energy envelope and structure. The Village Centre was built by Project Coordination. The exposed timber beams The vaulted roof inside the Visitor Centre features radiating timber beams supported by concrete columns. The unique timber structure combines a low environmental impact with forms inspired by the leaves and trees in the surrounding forests. The timber frame uses laminated Tasmanian oak from sustainably managed plantations and contains over 3,000 unique structural members, cut to shape from computer models, test fitted in factories in Tasmania and then erected on site.

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All ten massive curved beams in the ceiling are of different lengths, and 73 solid timber struts form the key structural elements of the dome. The longest beam is 56 metres long and 12 metres high. Materials and systems Mortared and gabion stone walls: Built by Stonemad stone masons using stone from nearby Wee Jasper. The stone is rapidly-cooled, olivine basalt from shallow lava flows about 25 million years ago. Roof More than 2,000 square metres of pure zinc sheeting, using traditional hand-formed standing seam joints to provide a durable roof, interlinked with double glazed roof panels. Roof and window glass Double glazed sealed units with high performance solar glass and a low emissivity coating provide good natural light but reflect summer heat on the outside while retaining winter warmth on the inside of the building. Ceiling sound insulation Special acoustic fabric finished panels. Floor Honed and sealed concrete. Cooling and air conditioning system Extensive natural ventilation complemented by under floor hydronic heating and low-energy air conditioning. Energy and water efficiency The choice of timber reduces embodied energy by nearly 90% compared to steelwork. The stone walls also have a low energy profile. Low energy lighting and mechanical systems are used throughout. Water system All water is captured from roof tops, stored in a 90,000 litre underground tank, then recycled for toilet flushing and plant watering. Glass panels in the entrance to the Village Centre The etched glass panels in the stone gabion walls lining the entrance to the Village Centre were designed by David Lancashire Design. The etchings and text on the panels tell the story of plant evolution and the formation of coal seams.

3. The Village Centre, Canberra Discovery Garden and the Events Terrace ready for the official Opening Ceremony on 1 February 2013. Photo by L. Muldoon.

4. The Village Centre during construction. Photo by L. Muldoon, 2012.

5. The Village Centre during construction. Photo by L. Harley, 2012.

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6. A volunteer guide from the Friends of the National Arboretum shows visitors the Village Centre under construction at the 2012 Festival of the Forests, organised by the Friends. Photo by L. Muldoon.

7. The steeply pitched roof of the Margaret Whitlam Pavilion gives the building a strong presence in the landscape. Designed by Tonkin Zulaika Greer Architects, the Pavilion was opened on 6 May 2013. Photo by J. Gollings, 2014.

The beautiful Margaret Whitlam Pavilion is a unique venue available for hire for private functions, including weddings, celebrations, meetings and performances, for up to 80 guests seated or 100 guests standing. For enquiries, call Ginger Catering 02 6273 4366, email: info@gingercatering.com.au

8. Breezing in Canberra sculpture by Mr Nishino Kozo resembles a bird moving in the air and stands seven metres tall close to Tuggeranong Parkway. Photo by J. Gallary, 2016.

The artist, Mr Nishino Kozo, creates enormous yet delicate sculptures using metals such as titanium, aluminum, stainless steel and iron. Nishino’s sculptures possess an intricate skeletal steel wire structure and move smoothly, reacting to natural air movements as if they were living things. Both sculptures on site by Mr Kozo, Breezing in Canberra and In the Stream, were commissioned by Arts ACT. From the artist: “I want to create something that evokes air and wind….I would like my sculptures to exist as expressions of the lives we humans live cradled by this atmosphere.”

9. Wide Brown Land sculpture near the Himalayan cedar forest. Photo by J. Gollings, 2010.

Wide Brown Land is 35 metres long and 3 metres high, made from corten steel and steel rod by Marcus Tatton, Futago Design Studios and Chris Viney in 2010. The three words in the Wide Brown Land sculpture are derived from the famous poem 'My Country', written by poet Dorothea Mackellar when she was 22 years old, living in England and homesick for Australia. The sculpture's form and style were inspired by Mackellar's handwriting. Many Australians are familiar with the second verse of the poem which includes the well known phrase "The wide brown land for me!", but less familiar with the first verse:

"The love of field and coppice, Of green and shaded lanes. Of ordered woods and gardens Is running in your veins, Strong love of grey-blue distance Brown streams and soft dim skies I know but cannot share it, My love is otherwise.

I love a sunburnt country, A land of sweeping plains, Of ragged mountain ranges, Of droughts and flooding rains. I love her far horizons, I love her jewel-sea, Her beauty and her terror - The wide brown land for me!”

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10. From the idea of seeds as the beginning of life, the fantastical Pod Playground was created to celebrate plants and challenge comfort zones. Designed by Taylor Cullity Lethlean Landscape Architects and opened on 22 June 2013. Photo by B. Boardman, 2013.

Pod Playground features giant banksia cubbies and sand-play for the younger tots and oversized acorn tree houses, slides and swings for the older children. Simone Bliss, the project manager for Pod Playground, aimed to create experiences to keep children coming back and testing themselves rather than immediately conquering the challenges and becoming bored. Launching the acorns at varying heights gives children the opportunity to look out over the arboretum, creating a link back to the forests and building children’s confidence. One acorn stands alone so children can get used to being at a certain height, and then when they feel confident they can explore a taller one. Inside the acorn tree houses are unique themes to surprise and delight. A storm acorn contains instruments for children to make thunderous sounds; another celebrates insects, with moulds of spiders, beetles and other insects displayed on walls and windows.

11. Nest III, a striking metal sculpture of an Australian wedge tail eagle by Richard Moffatt, sits at the top of Dairy Farmers Hill. This photo by Michael Selge was awarded a commendation in the adult category of the Arboretum Photography Competition 2014, organised by the Friends of the Arboretum.

Nest III was created by Richard Moffatt in 2007 from welded steel found-objects, mostly abandoned farm machinery.

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Bringing the Land to Life

The first ‘new’ tree was planted at the Arboretum in 2007, and since then, hundreds of people have worked hard to prepare the soil, plant, mulch and water and nurture the trees. Water security and robust irrigation systems have been a vital element for the forests’ survival.

1. Looking south over the Arboretum from Dairy Farmers Hill in May 2010. Photo by E. Hawkes.

2. Looking south over the Arboretum from Dairy Farmers Hill in October 2011. Photo by E. Hawkes.

3. Camden white gum seedlings, Eucalyptus benthamii, propagated by Yarralumla Nursery and ready for planting in Forest 30 in 2008. Photo by A. Burgess 2008.

4. Bunya pine seedlings, Araucaria bidwillii, propagated by Yarralumla Nursery and ready for planting in Forest 71 in 2009. Photo by A. Burgess, 2009.

Also known as the Bunya-bunya, Bunya pines can live for 600 years. The cones of this large evergreen conifer are very large at 20-35cm in diameter and weighing up to 10kg. The Bunya pine is native to two small populations in south eastern Queensland where it is normally found as an emergent over tropical rainforest. It has been a sacred tree and an important source of food, timber and fibre for indigenous Australians for thousands of years. Indigenous Australians eat the nut of the bunya tree both raw and cooked. Traditionally, the nuts were ground and made into a paste, which was eaten directly or cooked in hot coals to make bread. Indigenous Australians also ate bunya shoots, and utilised the trees' bark as kindling. Groves of Bunya pines were often under particular tribal ownership and as the fruit ripened, indigenous people who were bound by custodial obligations and rights sent out messengers to invite people from hundreds of kilometres to meet at specific sites in the Bon-yi Mountains (Bunya Mountains) to feast on the kernels. Many different tribal groups – up to thousands of people – would travel great distances from as far as Charleville, Dubbo, Bundaberg and Grafton to the gatherings. They stayed for months, to celebrate and feast on the Bunya nut. The Bunya gatherings involved ceremonies; discussions and negotiations over law, marriage and regional issues; dispute settlements and the trading of goods. Over time, non-indigenous settlers felled most of the Bunya forests for timber and to make way for agriculture.

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Indigenous groups such as the Wakka Wakka, Githabul, Kabi Kabi, Jarowair, Gooreng Gooreng, Butchella, Quandamooka, Barrangum, Yiman and Willi Willi traditional owners continue their cultural and spiritual connections to the Bunya Mountains to this day. A number of strategies including the use of traditional ecological knowledge have been incorporated into the current management practices of the national park and conservation reserves with the Bunya Murri Ranger project operating in the Bunya Mountains. Other uses Since the mid-1990s, the Australian company Maton has used Bunya for the soundboards of its BG808CL Performer acoustic guitars. The Cole Clark Company, also Australian, uses Bunya for the majority of its acoustic guitar soundboards. The timber is valued by cabinet makers and woodworkers, and has been used for carpentry and furniture for over a century.

5. Southern magnolia seedlings, Magnolia grandiflora ‘Exmouth’, ready for planting in Forest 7 in 2009. Photo by A. Burgess, 2009.

A large evergreen tree, southern magnolias can live for over 200 years. Their large white flowers are fragrant and they produce attractive rose-coloured fruit. The species is native to southern USA where it is the state tree and flower of Louisiana and Mississippi. The flower was also used as an emblem of the Confederate army in the United States civil war. Its timber is hard and heavy, and has been used to make furniture, boxes, pallets, venetian blinds, sashes, doors and as veneers.

6. Osage orange seedlings, Maclura pomifera, propagated by Yarralumla Nursery and ready for planting in Forest 102 in 2011. Photo by A. Burgess, 2011.

These small deciduous trees can live for about 75 years. The Osage orange is native to in the Red River drainage of Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas in the United State of America. There is one species, Maclura cochinchinensis, that is native to northern Queensland. The Osage orange produces a fruit that resembles a large orange but is inedible and contains a sticky white latex sap. The native Osage American people used the straight grained wood for war clubs and bows, hence the name Bois D'Arc (bow-wood) given by the early French settlers who observed this practice. Most of the wood is knotty and twisted, but beautiful and therefore popular for craft work. Early in the European settlement of North America the sharp-thorned trees were planted as cattle-deterring hedges before the introduction of barbed wire.

Later, the heavy, close-grained wood became an important source of fence posts, tool handles and other uses requiring a strong wood that withstands rot. A yellow-orange dye can also be extracted from the wood and the wood, when dried, makes excellent firewood.

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7. Friends of the Arboretum volunteers work together with the Arboretum’s horticulturalists to

plant Franklin trees, Franklinia alatamaha, in Forest 93 in 2015. Photo by J. Mohr, 2015.

A small deciduous tree, Franklin trees can live for more than 100 years. Its fragrant white flowers are similar to camellia blossoms and smell like honeysuckle. Once native to the USA, The Franklin tree has been extinct in the wild since the early 19th century, but lives on as a rare cultivated tree. All living trees are descended from seed collected in the late 1700s by a botanical collector. The Franklin tree was only ever known from the Altamaha River valley on the coastal plain of Georgia. The tree was last recorded in the wild in 1803. While the cause of its extinction in the wild is not known, it has been attributed to a number of causes, in particular, over-collection by plant collectors. The recently replanted Franklin trees at the Arboretum are special because they were propagated by cuttings taken from the strongest-growing Franklin trees at the Arboretum, so they are hopefully hardy to the extreme Canberra climate.

8. Friends of the Arboretum volunteers work together with the Arboretum’s horticulturalists to maintain the dragon trees, Dracaena draco, a threatened species in Forest 15, planted in 2008 and 2009. Photo by E. Hawkes, 2010.

The Dragon tree is native to the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and Madeira where it occurs in areas known as thermophile (heat loving) forests which have moderate temperature and rainfall conditions and contain several of the island's endemic species. The total population is reduced to a few hundred trees. Although threatened in the wild it has been cultivated in many countries around the world. A slow-growing evergreen tree, it has lily-like flowers and is related to the cordylines. When the bark or leaves are cut they secrete a reddish resin, one of the sources of the substance known as dragon's blood, used to stain wood, such as for violins. Dragon's blood had a wide range of uses as a medicine, for staining violins and for embalming the dead. The oldest known Dragon tree growing in the Canary Islands is believed to be around 365 years old.

9. Trish Keller, current Chair of the Friends of the National Arboretum Canberra and Jocelyn Plovits, former Chair of the Friends, planting a Franklin tree in Forest 93 during a Friends’ working bee. Photo by J. Mohr, 2015.

10. Crimson clover, Trifolium incarnatum, a nitrogen-fixing leguminous ground cover. Photo by A. Burgess, 2014.

The soils on site were so degraded after eighty years of growing pine plantations and two major bushfires, that they required enrichment before they could grow healthy trees.

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Before planting each forest, the soil was deep ripped and sand was added to encourage strong root development in the young trees. After much discussion and consideration, the decision was made to plant seven types of nitrogen-fixing leguminous ground covers to help improve the soil and drainage and reduce erosion.

11. Horticultural staff and Friends of the National Arboretum volunteers working together to hand water the Ginkgo trees in Forest 27 during the extremely hot summer of 2013. Photo by A. Burgess.

The Ginkgo forest was planted in March 2008 in a regular diamond grid pattern. Gaps in the forest relate to the footprint of major buildings in China's Forbidden City.

A large deciduous tree, Ginkgo trees can live for over 1,000 years. The species is also known to be very hardy. Trees growing just 1–2 km from the 1945 atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima were among the few living things in the area to survive the blast.

The Ginkgo has separate male and female trees. Its dark green leaves are the shape of the maidenhair fern leaflets and they turn brilliant gold in autumn. Greenish catkin-like cones appear on male trees in spring, and female trees produce round fruits, 1.5-2 cm in diameter (sometimes twin fruits), on single stalks. Although it is more like a conifer than a deciduous broadleaf tree, it is neither. Recent research suggests a much closer relationship to the cycads than to the conifers and it is placed in a division of its own, 'Ginkgophyta'.

The species is native to south east China. Trees have been planted around temples in China and Japan for over a thousand years and fossil evidence indicates that ginkgos were once widespread around the world. Although it is a very widely cultivated tree for hundreds of years, it is an endangered species in the wild with very few natural populations known. Some possibly wild populations still exist on Xitianmu Mountain, Zhejiang, in China.

Uses The nut-like seeds are a traditional Chinese food and are particularly esteemed in Asia. They are often served at special occasions such as weddings and Chinese New Year. Numerous leaf extracts have also been widely used as traditional medicines.

12. Water is pumped from Dam 2 in Forest 91 to the huge 1.6 megalitre reinforced concrete reservoir hidden beneath Dairy Farmers Hill, seen here in the middle of the photo. Photo by J. Gollings, 2010.

13. Friends of the Arboretum volunteers work together with the Arboretum’s horticulturalists to re-mulch the Dairy Farmers Hill lookout area. Photo by A. Burgess, 2014.

14. Preparing the ground and irrigation pipes for planting the Parana pines, Araucaria augustifolia in Forest 23. Photo by E. Hawkes, 2012.

15. Three 20,000 litre concrete tanks are installed underneath the Moroccan cypress lookout in Forest 40, contributing to water security. Photo by E. Hawkes, 2010.

16. Native rushes and reeds growing in the ephemeral (temporary) wetland in the Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park (STEP), Forest 20. Photo by L. Muldoon, 2010.

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Exploring the Forests

Most of the 94 forests of the Arboretum have been planted with a single species of a threatened, rare or symbolic tree to provide visitors with the experience of being immersed in the form, features and colours of one type of tree.

1. A young pecan tree in Forest 93, Carya illinoinensis, planted in 2010. The pecan trees are a host forest for the Franklin trees which are extinct in the wild. Photo by J. Gallary, 2016.

A large deciduous tree with a spreading crown, pecan trees can live for more than 300 years. The species is native to south-central USA and north eastern Mexico. Although the species still occurs in many parts of its natural range, its primary habitat – fertile areas adjacent to major rivers – has been increasingly converted to agriculture and inundated by dams. Concern has been expressed with regards to the overall genetic diversity of the species. The nuts of the pecan can be eaten fresh or cooked. The wood is also used in making furniture, flooring and as flavouring fuel for smoking meats. In 1919, the pecan tree was made the state tree of Texas where the Texas Pecan Festival is celebrated there every year.

2. The Camden white gum, Eucalyptus benthamii in Forest 30 is a threatened native Australian tree. It was the first ‘new’ forest planted in the Arboretum in 2007. Photo by E. Hawkes, 2011.

An attractive medium sized evergreen tree, the Camden white gum usually has a solitary white-barked trunk and a many-branched, spreading crown. The bark sheds in flakes or ribbons and small white flowers appear in groups of seven in April and May. Camden white gum is a threatened species, native to the Nepean River and tributaries near Camden in New South Wales where it was known to the Aboriginal people of the area as durrum-by-ang. Vegetation clearing, increased nutrient levels and weed invasion are its main threats. The construction of the Warragamba Dam in 1933 flooded a large area of its habitat and probably killed many individuals.

3. The winding path through the Himalayan cedar Forest 11, Cedrus deodara, leads to the timber picnic deck. Photo by E. Hawkes, 2011.

Planted in Forest 11 from 1917 to 1930, Himalayan cedars can live up to 600 years. It is the national tree of Pakistan. The species is native to the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region across Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and West Nepal and into Tibet. It is often an important component of temperate forests. While the tree is not classified as threatened, it is thought that about 30-40% of the trees have been removed from accessible areas over the last 40 years. This mainly occurs in habitats that are threatened as a result of grazing.

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It is an important tree in India and it has been long used use to construct religious temples. The curative properties of deodar are well recorded in Indian Ayurvedic medicine. Its many other applications include incense, soap, perfumes, household sprays, floor polishes insecticides and bonsai. The Himalayan cedar forests were a favourite place for meditating for ancient Indian sages. Most of the Himalayan cedar forest was saved from the 2001 and 2003 bushfires which ravaged the pine forests previously growing on the site.

4. Flowers of the Norway spruce, Picea abies, in Forest 52, planted in August 2009. Photo by R. Hnatiuk, 2015.

A large evergreen conifer, the Norway spruce can live for 250 years, with some living much longer. The species is native and widespread across Europe. It is a timber tree of major economic importance throughout the cool temperate areas of Europe. The wood is used for pulpwood as well as for construction, furniture and musical instruments (including the Stradivarius violins). It is also one of the most common species used for Christmas trees in Britain.

5. Female cones of the Wollemi pine in Forest 32, Wollemia nobilis, planted in 2007 and 2008. The Wollemi pine is considered to be critically endangered because fewer than 100 trees are known to be growing in a very restricted area in the wild. Photo by L. Muldoon, 2010.

A large evergreen conifer, the Wollemi pine is native to the Wollemi National Park west of Sydney in New South Wales. It was first discovered in 1994 growing alongside a creek in a narrow, steep-sided sandstone gorge in 1994 by David Noble. The oldest trees of this species are thought to be from 500 to 1000 years old. The species is restricted to a small number of populations in a very limited area. The survival of the species in such a small area over a very long period of time is remarkable.

Prior to the discovery of living material, the genus was only known from fossils from the late Cretaceous, about 60-65 million year ago. Fossil remains indicate that it was once widespread around the world. Since it has been brought into cultivation it has become a very popular rare plant cultivated in Australia and overseas.

Wollemia is named after the Wollemi National Park (an Aboriginal name for the numerous canyons in the region); nobilis is Latin for noble and refers to both the noble impression of the tree and the discoverer of the species, David Noble.

6. White-flowering hedge cactus, Cereus hildmannianus, in the Canberra Discovery Garden. Photo by A. Burgess, 2016.

7. Hoary sunrays, Leucochrysum albicans, in Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park (STEP), Forest 20. Photo by A. Russell, 2016.

8. Seed pods of the kurrajong tree, Brachychiton populneus. The kurrajong Forest 79 was planted in 2010. Photo by L. Muldoon, 2010.

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A medium sized evergreen tree, the kurrajong is native to the western side of the Great Dividing Range from Albury to Townsville. Indigenous people used fibre from the inner bark for nets to catch fish and birds and the seeds and tap roots of young trees for food. It produces light and soft timber that has been used for lattices and interior furnishings. Limbs have often been cut off for stock fodder during drought. When in flower it has also been of use to make honey.

9. The beautifully patterned flowers of the southern catalpa tree, Catalpa bignonioides in Forest 96 planted in 2011. Photo by L. Muldoon, 2013

Also called the Indian bean tree, the Southern catalpa is native to the southeastern United States. It is relatively long lived for a fast growing tree, with some trees reaching maximum height in 25 years but living more than 50 years. Several trees in Europe are well over 100 years old. The timber is rot resistant so was used for fence posts, furniture making and the interior trim in houses.

10. Flowers of the Wee Jasper grevillea, Grevillea iaspicula, in Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park, STEP Forest 20. Photo by A. Russell 2015.

11. Pods of the Buchan blue wattle, Acacia caerulescens, in Forest 13 planted in 2008. Photo by A. Burgess, 2014.

A small evergreen tree with blue green foliage and a fragrant, pale-yellow flower, the Buchan blue wattle is a threatened Australian native species. The species is native to a small area in the Gippsland region of Victoria and it is estimated only approximately 1700 individuals exist. Threats include weed invasion, road works, land clearing and grazing. A recovery plan has been prepared.

12. The cork oak Forest 1, Quercus suber, planted in 1917 and 1920. Photo by J. Gollings, 2010.

A medium-sized evergreen tree with a broad spreading canopy, cork oaks are native to southwestern Europe and northwestern North Africa. They can live up to 200 years and have unusually thick, deeply fissured grey bark which is fire retardant. The first cork oak seedlings planted at the Arboretum site in 1917 were propagated from acorns sent to Charles Weston at the Yarralumla Nursery by Walter Burley Griffin. These were sourced from the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne. More acorns were collected from the Public Gardens in Kyneton, Victoria and seedlings were also raised from acorns collected on Campbell's property at Duntroon. By 1920, 9600 cork oaks had been planted in an area covering 8 ha at this location, then known as Green Hills. Some of the area was lost, however, to the Glenloch Interchange roadworks in the early 1980s.

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In 1948, some of the cork oaks were stripped and 19 cwt of the cork was sent to a Melbourne-based company who was using imported cork to press into blocks to insulate refrigerator doors. A second stripping was undertaken in the 1970s and this cork went to a different Melbourne based company who used it for engine gaskets, cork tiles, heels for shoes and bottle stoppers. In 1979, ACT Forests did a stripping which yielded 10 t of cork which was used by potters and model railway enthusiasts. Manuel Silva and Manuel Graca, two cousins from Ponte Des Sor in Portugal's cork-growing region, were brought to Canberra in 2001 by the Portuguese cork company, Amorin. They demonstrated cork stripping at Glenloch Cork Oak Plantation and received much media attention. In November 2005, three Portuguese–Australian men were commissioned by ACT Forests to strip cork over a two-week period and the harvest was sold to plant nurseries for growing orchids. From December 2012 to January 2013, volunteers from the Friends of the National Arboretum Canberra surveyed the cork oak plantation that had now become Forest 1 of the National Arboretum Canberra. They counted 2604 live trees, 34 dead trees, 5 fallen trees and 782 tree stumps, accounting for 3420 trees in total. The bark is the world's major source of cork and has been long used for heat and sound insulation, flooring, floats and bottle corks. Portugal currently produces about 50 per cent of the world's cork harvest. The Cork oak forest is planted in a quincunx pattern - one tree at each corner of a square or rectangle and one in the centre. The international importance of the species is highlighted by its inclusion in the gene conservation network of the European Forest Genetic Resources Program.

13. Nearly one hundred years old, the towering Himalayan cedar Forest 11, Cedrus deodara, surrounds a timber picnic deck with two electric barbeques. Photo by J. Gollings, 2011

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Research, Citizen Science and Biodiversity

One of the Arboretum's most important roles is to generate research and new knowledge about its rare, endangered and symbolic trees and forests and their ecology. The Arboretum’s trees have faced droughts, floods, hot winds and severe frosts. These extreme conditions offer opportunities to see how the trees respond - some trees thrive while others struggle. This is a rich vein for research and learning about the cultivation, adaptation and possible preservation of some of the rarest trees in the world.

1. Members of the Tree Growth Monitoring Group measure the growth of a monkey puzzle tree, Araucaria araucana, in Forest 12, a threatened species planted in 2009. Photo by L. Muldoon, 2013.

The name Araucaria is derived from the tribe name Aracanos. These large evergreen trees are native to the lower slopes of the south-central Andes of south-central Chile and west central Argentina and can live for over 1,000 years. The monkey puzzle tree is the national tree of Chile. Since the colonial period, it has been heavily exploited as a construction timber, especially in the mining industry. In Argentina in 1960 its felling was prohibited and the principal remaining stands fall under the jurisdiction of national parks. However, areas of the wild forest outside of parks have been lost and it has been highly fragmented. The seeds are edible, similar to large pine nuts, and are extensively harvested in Chile. An indigenous group living in the Andes, the Pehuenches, owe their name to their diet based on harvesting of the Araucaria seeds. In the Andes, its distribution is closely associated with volcanic activity and it is able to start colonising areas after volcanic eruptions before other tree species.

2. Dr Roger Hnatiuk beaming with satisfaction at the purchase of permanent tree labels for the statistical sampling schema, part of the Tree Growth Monitoring project. Photo by L. Muldoon, 2015.

The Tree Growth Monitoring research project, led by Dr Roger Hnatuik, is providing a quantitative, statistically sound record of the growth rates for all of the Arboretum’s forests. It will also provide evidence for changes in health of the trees, as well as responses to weather and climate with respect to temperature and rainfall. The statistical design, provided by Dr Ross Cunningham from the Australian National University, ensures a rigorous underpinning to the data for determining height and diameter growth, and assessments of the impact of topography on growth, as well as the capacity to gauge genetic diversity of each species.

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The aims of the project are primarily to monitor the growth of the trees in the planted forests at the National Arboretum:

to determine the heights and diameters of the forest trees as they develop and to track their rate of growth

to determine if, and to what extent, tree growth is affected by local landscape position (slope, aspect)

to determine the degree of genetic variability in the population of trees in each forest. The sampling strategy The sampling strategy is a form of stratified random sampling. Using tree planting maps, each forest is divided into 6 or 8 rectangular blocks (usually with a line halfway between sides paralleling the long axis, and then three lines at regular intervals at right angles to the first. This plan is varied where the Forest contains significant irregularities in shape, in which case, blocks may not be rectangular in shape, may represent geographic outliers etc. Within each block, the trees are numbered. The total number of trees for the forest is calculated. A random sample of about 15 trees is apportioned across the forest according to the proportion of trees in each block compared to the total for the forest. These trees are marked on the maps and the nearest adjacent tree selected to constitute a 'pair'. The second member of the pair is chosen to be close to the first and on the same elevation contour so as to minimise environmental variability. The trees are marked on the digital maps. The 30 trees are then located in the field for measurement. Each tree is labelled in the field.

3. A Wedge-tailed eagle, Aquila audax, flying over the Arboretum. Photo by A. Burgess, 2013.

4. Yvonne Kilgour, a member of the Tree Growth Monitoring Group, uses a clinometer to measure the angle to calculate the height of a tree. Photo by L. Muldoon, 2013.

5. Dr Roger Hnatiuk explains tree growth monitoring to students from the Australian National University in the southern magnolia Forest 7. Photo by C. Hilliker, 2012.

6. Associate Professor Cris Brack from the ANU and Dr Roger Hnatiuk discussing the Tree Growth Monitoring project in the Japanese flowering dogwood, Cornus kousa Forest 8. Photo by C. Hilliker, 2012.

7. Meadow argus butterfly, Junonia villida, on golden everlasting daisies, Xerochrysum bracteatum, in Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park (STEP), Forest 20. Photo by A.Russell, 2015.

8. 9 & 10. Seed was collected from the Wollemi pines in Forest 31 by horticultural staff and Friends of the Arboretum volunteers. Ian Sayers and Margaret Callan are seen here sorting and selecting the viable seed. Photo by A. Burgess, 2016.

9. This Peron's tree frog, also known as the Maniacal Cackle Frog, Litoria peronii, was found in a bonsai in the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection. Photo by L. Taafe, 2015.

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Frogs provide a valuable service by eating mosquitoes and other pests, while tadpoles improve water quality by consuming large quantities of nutrients that would otherwise contribute to algal and bacterial growth. Through the Frogwatch project, eight different species of frog have been observed at the Arboretum:

the plains froglet (Crinia parinsignifera)

the common eastern froglet (Crinia signifera)

the pobblebonk, also known as Eastern banjo frog (Limnodynastes dumerelii)

the striped grass/marsh frog, also known as the brown-striped frog (Limnodynastes peronii)

the spotted grass/marsh frog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis)

Peron’s tree frog, also known as the maniacal cackle frog (Litoria peronii)

the whistling tree frog (Litoria verreauxii verreauxii)

the smooth toadlet (Uperoleia laevigata).

The Frogwatch research project, led by Dr Roger Hnatiuk, collects records of frogs present on the Arboretum site, focusing on monitoring frog biodiversity in four wetlands at the National Arboretum as part of the larger ACT and NSW Frogwatch program. The project examines long term changes in the frog biota of the Arboretum and its responses to both climate change on a large scale, and habitat changes at the local landscape scale as the site transitions from a closed conifer forest, to an open grassland, herbland, shrubland, and progressively through woodland to open and then closed forests. Research aims The aims of the project are:

to document the frog fauna of the National Arboretum Canberra as part of the larger ACT program to monitor the frogs of the ACT and surrounding NSW.

to contribute to the understanding of the biodiversity, including the frog fauna, of the National Arboretum Canberra.

to examine how the frog biota of the Arboretum site may be affected by, and respond to, a number of major forces that shape the kinds and quantities of plants, animals and other biota of the site.

Frogwatch is a community frog monitoring program with over 140 monitoring sites in the ACT and region.

10. A resident White-winged chough, Corcorax melanorhamphos, feeding its chicks in the cork oak Forest 1. Photo by A. Burgess, 2014.

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11. Fiddler beetle, Eupoecila australasiae, on a red stringybark, Eucalyptus macrorhyncha, in the Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park, Forest 20. Photo by A. Russell, 2016.

12. Short-beaked echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus, near the cork oak Forest 1. Photo by A. Burgess, 2014.

13. Australian raven, Corvus coronoides, one of the many birds frequently seen in the Arboretum. Photo by T. Hughes, 2015.

14. One of the Arboretum’s resident eastern water dragons, most likely Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii. This dragon spends much of its time around the Village Centre and is well cared for by Arboretum staff. Photo by T. Hughes, 2015.

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Local, National and International Engagement

Through ceremonial tree plantings, other special events and research projects, the Arboretum builds partnerships with local, national and international organisations, individuals and communities to further its role in global trees conservation and research.

1. The National Bonsai and Penjing Collection brings guest artists from all over the world to Australia to provide expert advice, master classes and demonstrations. Photo by L. Taafe and J. Gallary, 2016.

2. Marking 21 years since the Wollemi pine was discovered in 1994, Mr Shane Rattenbury, former Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, accompanied Mr David Noble, the discoverer of the Wollemi pine, to dedicate one of the Arboretum's Wollemi pines in Forest 32 to Mr Noble. Photo by L. Taafe, 2015.

One of the world's oldest and most rare tree species — the Wollemi pine — was thought to be extinct until 1994 when New South Wales Parks and Wildlife Ranger David Noble discovered a small grove of the trees in a sheltered canyon while abseiling in Wollemi National Park in the Blue Mountains. The Wollemi pine tree in Forest 32 is dedicated to Mr Noble in recognition of his extraordinary discovery.

3. The men in this group were students together in Vienna in 1972, 73 and 74. Since graduation they have met once a year in a different country. They are in their 60s now and live all over the world.... and here they are visiting the Arboretum for their 2015 catch up. Photo by L. Taafe.

4. Former Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Mr Shane Rattenbury and Ms Trish Keller, Chair of the Friends of the National Arboretum Canberra, open the new Dairy Farmers Hill Circuit. Photo by L. Taafe, 2015.

5. Australian rock music legend, Mr Jimmy Barnes, was joined by former Chief Minister of the ACT, Mr Jon Stanhope MLA, to plant a flame tree, Brachychiton acerifolius, in Central Valley. Note Adam Burgess, Horticultural Manager for the Arboretum, behind the tree. Adam has been working at the Arboretum since 2006. Photo by L. Harley, 2011.

Jimmy Barnes is best known as the lead singer of the Australian rock band Cold Chisel. Speaking at the event, Mr Stanhope said the tree planting represented the growing national importance of the Arboretum. "It is fitting that the very artist who immortalised the flame tree through song, should plant that very tree in Canberra's Arboretum," Mr Stanhope said. The flame tree or Brachychiton acerifolius grows to 15 metres in height and is considered one of Australia's most spectacular flowering trees. With bright red bell-shaped flowers that often cover the entire tree before the foliage emerges in late spring and early summer, it is said that the flowering flame tree is a sight never to be forgotten.

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The species was made famous by Jimmy Barnes in Cold Chisel's 1984 hit song ‘Flame Trees' - a song not only written about the tree, but of lost loves or old flames.

6. Former Chief Minister of the ACT, Katy Gallagher and children plant the Children’s Tree, a hoop pine, Araucaria cunninghamii, on the Events Terrace to celebrate the Arboretum’s first anniversary since opening to the public on 2 February 2013. Photo by L. Taafe, 2014.

The tree was donated by the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust in Sydney, the oldest Australian botanic garden in Australia. The number of visitors to the Arboretum in the first 12 months exceeded all expectations – well over 500,000 visitors made their way to the Arboretum and over 10,000 more attended private functions. The number of school visits and school holiday programs grew with more than 4,000 students from over 70 schools and educational institutions having visited and participated in the education program in the first twelve months.

7. Newly qualified volunteer guides from Friends of the Arboretum gathered at the entrance to the Village Centre in January 2013. Photo by M. Wright.

8. From L to R: Mrs Colette Mackay, Mr Shane Rattenbury, former Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Tyronne Bell, Jack Cassidy, Mr John Mackay OA and Jai Bell at the sod-turning for Mununja the Butterfly Garden. 9 November 2015. Photo by L. Taafe, 2015.

Mununja the Butterfly Garden depicts Mununja the Butterfly, the dreamtime story of a young Aboriginal girl who was changed into a butterfly so that she could avoid marrying the evil Gunga. He possessed great powers and would always prevent her from marrying the boy she loved. With the help of Narja, the good spirit butterfly, Mununja was able to remain near her family and her country forever as a beautiful butterfly. This is a story of the Ngunawal people, the custodians of the land that includes Canberra and the site of the National Arboretum.

9. From L to R: Then Minister for Tourism and Events, Andrew Barr, Australian wine-making legend Mr Wolf Blass and former Chair of the Arboretum Board, Mr John Mackay AO, at a ceremonial tree planting in the Central Valley. Mr Wolf Blass planted a hoop pine, Araucaria cunninghamii. Photo by E. Hawkes, 2011.

Mr Wolf Blass is a regular visitor to the ACT for the Canberra International Riesling Challenge, and his encouragement and expertise have been extremely valuable to Canberra’s wine industry. The Hoop pine, Araucaria cunninghamii, is native to Australia. The name Hoop pine refers to the horizontal ridges or ‘hoops’ that develop on its bark with age.

10. Ms Jocelyn Plovits, former Chair of the Friends of the Arboretum 2009-2015, was accompanied by Mr Stephen Alegria, Executive Manager of the Arboretum as she planted a drooping she oak, Allocasuarina verticillata, in Forest 100. Photo by L. Taafe, 2015.

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Mr Alegria thanked Jocelyn for her outstanding contribution as Chair of the Friends of the National Arboretum Canberra over six highly significant years for the organisation. The drooping she oak (Allocasuarina verticillata) is an Australian native evergreen tree which grows in diverse habitats. As the primary food source for the endangered glossy black-cockatoo, it is an important tree for biodiversity conservation. Growing up to 10 metres high, the drooping she oak is valued for windbreaks, drought fodder and firewood. The wood is used for posts and as a specialty timber for furniture-making.

11. Former Chief Minister of the ACT, Jon Stanhope MLA and John Mackay AO, former Chair of the Arboretum Board, joined His Excellency Mr Sukhbaatar Batbold, Prime Minister of Mongolia, in planting a Siberian elm, Ulmus pumila, in Central Valley. Photo: L. Harley, 2011.

Ceremonial tree plantings began in the Arboretum in 2008 and 51 trees have now been planted in Central Valley and the forests. Many Australian and international leaders, dignitaries and public figures have planted trees in Central Valley and the forests including Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; Her Majesty, Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck, Queen Mother of Bhutan; His Excellency Mr Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark; Her Excellency the Governor-General of Australia, Ms Quentin Bryce and Mr Thomas Keneally, renowned Australian author. Ceremonial tree plantings are one way that the Arboretum builds connections and partnerships with local, national and international organisations and individuals to further its role in conservation, research and education. There will be many more ceremonial tree plantings in Central Valley and the forests in the years ahead. As the trees grow, Central Valley will become a shady walkway through a diverse range of trees, representing many people and places from around the world.

12. Former Chief Minister of the ACT, Katy Gallagher, joined Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark when they met members of the Canberra community and planted a field maple, Acer campestre, in Central Valley 2011. Photo by L. Harley.

Their Royal Highnesses were invited to plant a tree during their visit to Canberra. Despite the rainy and cold weather, the Royal couple stopping to talk to as many people as possible, including a small group of school children who presented Princess Mary with a book for each of her children. The field maple is native to much of Europe, north to southern England, Denmark, Poland, Belarus, Asia, North Africa, North America and Australia where it is sometimes called the common maple. A tough, adaptable tree tolerant of a wide range of site conditions, it is excellent for street planting and especially useful for smaller landscaped areas.

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Education and Lifelong Learning

The Arboretum offers a wide range of educational and learning opportunities. Facilitated curriculum based nature educational programs in Science, Environment, Sustainability and Geography are available, as well as school holiday programs. For adults there are workshops and guided tours to learn about trees, bonsai and penjing. We believe fun is a natural part of learning for all ages. 1. Long time volunteer with the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection, Mr Jim Miller,

demonstrating how to prune a blue Atlas cedar, Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’, in the Collection. Photo by I. Boorman, 2015.

The National Bonsai and Penjing Collection is supported by highly skilled and experienced volunteers and the broader bonsai and penjing community. New volunteers are always welcome and free training is provided. Comments from a Victorian visitor to the Arboretum who happened to catch Mr Khanh Linh’s demonstration of penjing by chance: “Dear Leigh and staff, Today we spent the most enjoyable two hours so far of our far-too-short stay in Canberra. What a surprise! There, tucked away beside the main building, was your magnificent collection of bonsais and penjing landscapes. Absolutely superb. We were especially impressed with the Australian native bonsais - and your Australian native colleagues whose love for their jobs showed when we asked a lot of enthusiastic, if naive, questions. The collection is absolutely wonderful - the best, and certainly the most loved - I have ever seen. I was proud that Australia could create and care for such a collection - and vastly impressed by the scale of the ambition of the Arboretum itself. Then came the penjing demonstration by Khanh Linh. What an eye-opener! What an artist. On a flat sheet of something resembling ‘fibro’, Khanh Linh conjured up a zen landscape that looked as if it had stood for centuries. Gnarled bonsai junipers, mondo grass and moss entwined with chunks of petrified wood 165 million years old on three idyllic islands. It was wonderful to witness such an act of creation. Please pass on our thanks to Mr Khanh. It truly was a life-changer.”

2. Participants at a bonsai-making workshop with their take home bonsais. Photo by L. Taafe, 2015.

3. A Giralang Primary School student helping to clear rocks from the Events Terrace before landscaping begins. Photo by L Sealie, 2014.

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4. Visiting artist, Mr Khanh Linh, demonstrates the construction of a penjing landscape using a Nepal juniper, mondo grass, moss and pieces of 165 million year old petrified wood. Photo by J. Mohr, 2015.

5. Giralang Primary School students are involved in regular working bees at the Arboretum, facilitated by the Arboretum’s horticulturalists. In this photo the students are planting native plants on the rocky knoll near the Chinese tulip forest. Photo by T. Hughes, 2015.

6. Participants at a bonsai demonstration by visiting Italian bonsai artist Mauro Stemberger, learning as much as they can from his demonstration. Photo by J. Mohr, 2015.

7. The Canberra Discovery Garden shows visitors how to create an attractive sustainable garden in any season using minimal water. It also functions as an education and function space. Supported by ACTEW Water, now ICON Water. Photo by L. Sealie, 2015.

8. Kindergarten children learning about the magical National Bonsai and Penjing Collection. Photo by T. Hughes, 2015.

9. The Arboretum’s Education Coordinator, Heather Tregoning, with students from Year 6 Iluka Primary School, learning about forest conservation. Photo by T. Hughes, 2015.

The National Arboretum provides a range of facilitated educational programs on site for all ages. The programs link with the Australian curriculum in the areas of Science, Environment, Sustainability and Geography. Facilitated programs take place in the forests.

10. Friends of the Arboretum volunteer guide, Anna Howe, explaining the Arboretum’s role in tree conservation to visitors. Photo by C. Hilliker, 2016.

11. Students from St Thomas Aquinas School exploring food webs and ecology with the Arboretum’s Education Coordinator, Heather Tregoning. Photo by L. Taafe, 2014.

12. A Giralang Primary School student getting ready to garden at a working bee. Photo by T. Hughes, 2015.

13. Curator of the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection, Leigh Taafe, helping a participant in the school holiday bonsai-making workshop. Photo by J. Mohr, 2015.

14. Students from Merici High School investigating biological adaptation, sustainability and environmental geography. Photo by D. Downes, 2014.

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One Arboretum Many Experiences

The Arboretum provides myriad opportunities for visitors to create and enjoy a huge range of experiences, whether walking or cycling through the forests, picnicking, relaxing in the cafe and restaurant, celebrating a wedding or birthday, participating in a school holiday program, and more....the possibilities are endless.

1. Ms Julie O'Connor with her mule, Wendy, walking and riding the National Bicentennial Trail which winds through the Arboretum. Photo by A. Burgess, 2016.

The National Bicentennial Trail is 5,330 kms long, from Healesville in Victoria to Cooktown in Queensland. Julie found that locals were so warm and friendly on her long walk that her commitment to being a vegetarian has been temporarily abandoned as all the farmers have been giving her steak, sausages, bacon and beer. Cold bucket showers and camping with Wendy- her mule- are her normal day; hiking for 3 days with a 1 day break. Wendy is a 17 year ole mule and quite small for her age. She carries 60 kgs of supplies. Wendy and Julie have grown very close to one another with Wendy fretting for up to an hour when Julie leaves her. Wendy will go to a farm for the week while in Canberra while Julie has real showers and sleeps in a real bed.

2. Cycling on the Himalayan cedar trail. Photo by L. Sealie, 2016.

3. Having fun in the giant acorn tree houses in Pod Playground. Photo by J. Mohr, 2015.

4. The Arboretum opened to the public on 2 February 2013. 15,000 people came along to enjoy the day of events and activities, including kite flying in the Amphitheatre. Photo by L. Muldoon, 2013.

5. A Wiradjuri dance on the Himalayan cedar picnic deck at the Festival of Forests 2012. Photo by D. Vaal.

6. A happy couple celebrating Valentine's Day at a romantic breakfast in the Conservatory Restaurant. Photo by C. Hilliker, 2016.

7. Private function guests at the Village Centre enjoy a private night time viewing of the wondrous National Bonsai and Penjing Collection. Photo by L. Taafe, 2015.

8. Wedding vows in the Margaret Whitlam Pavilion. Photo by B. Salinger, 2015.

9. At the Arboretum’s Opening Festival on 2 February 2013, people of all ages had a wonderful time listening to music, playing with giant balloons and kites, and enjoying craft activities. Photo by M. Ollman.

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10. Family walking on the Dairy Farmers Hill Circuit, a walking and cycling trail, at its opening. Photo by L. Taafe, 2015.

11. The Curatoreum gift store, a treasure trove of locally designed home wares and jewellery, wonderful books, gifts and children’s activities. Photo by L. Taafe, 2015.

12. ‘Voices in the Forest’ is the Arboretum’s most spectacular annual operatic concert, held in the outdoor grassed amphitheatre with panoramic views. Photo by M. Ollman, 2014.

13. The southern gate to Pod Playground wrapped in colourful hand-knitted scarves for the Warm Trees art installation. Photo by J. Mohr, 2015.

Each year, Warm Trees involves the combined efforts of hundreds of volunteers of all ages who make knitted squares and scarves for a fantastic display at the Arboretum. Organised by the Friends of the National Arboretum Canberra, the main aim is to encourage people to visit and explore the Arboretum in winter time. Knitted contributions have come from families, residents in an aged care facility, school children and many individuals from the Canberra community and around Australia. Pod Playground is a wonderland for children, designed to celebrate plants and nature. The forms were drawn directly from the trees of the Arboretum, combining the shapes of the cork oak acorns with Banksia cones to create a unique space that begs for exploration and challenges comfort zones Designed and project managed by Taylor Cullity Lethlean.

14. A section of the Capital Punishment Mountain Bike Ride goes through the Arboretum. Photo by L. Muldoon, 2015.

15. Dancers in the Himalayan cedar Forest 11 for the Festival of the Forests 2012. Photo by L. Harley.

16. ‘Friends of the Arboretum’ volunteer, Tralie Kimlin, showing visitors how to knit as part of Warm Trees. Photo by L. Muldoon, 2015.

17. A guided walk by a ‘Friends of the Arboretum’ volunteer near the Himalayan cedar forest, one of the oldest forests of the Arboretum. Photo by D Vaal.