save the trees

Save the date: Sunday 30 July 2017. Walk in St Kilda Road and Environs for National Tree Day. Walk in St Kilda Road grand boulevard on Sunday 30 July 2017 or join an information walk in St Kilda Road and Environs. There will be information meeting points along St Kilda Road, from opposite Victoria Barracks down to near the intersection of Toorak Road and St Kilda Road, manned at least from 1.00pm to 4.00pm., and planners, engineers, politicians, arborists, heritage consultants and others will be invited and available for information and discussion on St Kilda Road and Environs. Video inside explains what is at stake.

This is an event for National Tree Day, Planet Ark’s National event, as a community tree and naturecare event for St Kilda Road and Environs and its trees, environment, habitats.

- fostering a love of nature and creating positive environmental attitudes and change
- education and awareness
- for the protection and preservation of St Kilda Road and Environs, including the tree canopies of elm and London plane trees in the grand heritage boulevard St Kilda Road, and Domain Parklands.

In the Community

Each year thousands of families, businesses and groups across Australia take part in National Tree Day, which in 2017 will be on Sunday July 30th, although events can be held at any time during the year. National Tree Day is a great opportunity for community and organisations to engage members, recruit new participants or just have a great day out. It can mark the beginning of a long term environmental program or be used to demonstrate the great work you're already doing. Whatever the case is - National Tree Day is a much loved event that will sit nicely on your social calendar.” (Planet Ark: National Tree Day)

We are organizing a nature care and awareness/information event, promoting the trees and natural environment of St Kilda Road and Environs, on the Australian Heritage Register since February 2017 for emergency protection, and drawing awareness to its habitats and the urgent need for its protection and preservation.

• there will be information meeting points along St Kilda Road, from opposite Victoria Barracks down to near the intersection of Toorak Road and St Kilda Road, manned at least from 1.00pm to 4.00pm., and planners, engineers, politicians, arborists, heritage consultants and others will be invited and available for information and discussion on St Kilda Road and Environs

• there will be information walks, from 11.30am to 4.00pm, including:

o A walking tour of the award-winning La Trobe Cottage garden by garden co-ordinator Sandi Pullman. (including information on an elm tree planned to be planted in the future, grown from the original elm at Governor La Trobe’s cottage).
o A walking tour of select favourite St Kilda Road trees, vistas and stories by author and historian Dr Judith Buckrich (author of the iconic book “Melbourne’s Grand Boulevard: The Story of St Kilda Road”, 1996).
o Noted arborist Dr Greg Moore, OAM, University of Melbourne, Chair of the National Trust’s Register of Significant Trees committee, previously Principal of Burnley (Horticulture) College, will lead a walking tour of significant trees in St Kilda Road and Environs, including grand boulevard St Kilda Road’s iconic, world renowned elm trees and London plane trees and tree-canopies, at imminent risk.
o Walking and information tour with John Fordham, arborist and horticulturalist, member of the National Trust’s Register of Significant Trees committee, considering the world significance of the beloved boulevard elm trees and the Australian Standards on the protection of trees on development sites.

Note: the above areas and trees are currently at risk.
Yellow ribbons will identify where there are community information points along St Kilda Road and where to meet for National Tree Day walking tours and information.

This is an opportunity to participate in something positive in this iconic Melbourne environment, to join the community and to reconnect with nature and enjoy its health benefits, to foster creating positive environmental attitudes, preservation and change.

Hope to see you all there.

Come to St Kilda Road and Environs and Be Informed and Inspired to Action: It’s in Our Nature.

Regards,
Bea McNicholas
Event co-ordinator
If you can volunteer to assist on the day or before please contact: Liz Doak on Tel 0401-289-820,
Email: [email protected]
Event/Information Walks details are below and are posted on the National Tree Day website:

Walk in St Kilda Road and Environs for Planet Ark National Tree Day: Sunday 30 July 2017

Walk in St Kilda Road and Environs for Planet Ark National Tree Day: Sunday 30 July 2017

Our parklands, trees and boulevards reflect our character as a nation.
Our Diversity.
Our Grit and Determination.
Our commitment to each other and to future generations.
Our Passion.
You can leave a legacy and make a difference in your community – in St Kilda Road and Environs.
Friends, community and supporters of St Kilda Road and Environs and Planet Ark and Toyota are inviting Melbourne residents and visitors to be inspired by nature and to make a positive difference by attending a National Tree Day event in this heritage registered neighbourhood of St Kilda Road and Environs.

This nature care event on Sunday 30 July 2017 will commence at 11.30am and run to 4.00pm. Come and join us:

Walk in St Kilda Road and Environs for Planet Ark National Tree Day: Sunday 30 July 2017
See National Tree Day 2017 Community Service Announcement:
Share Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwzl3PRqL6U#action=share

Not only does the avenue of Elms in University Square provide an irreplaceable oasis amidst the busy, traffic-ridden surrounding streets, the trees are also home to countless Microbats, Rainbow Lorikeets and Possums, native species whose survival depends on using hollows and trunks for habitat. There is nowhere within the precinct to re-locate these animals who will surely perish under the planned chainsaw massacre foreshadowed by Melbourne City Council’s University Square Master Plan. The proposed removal of University Square’s elms adds to the devastating effect of around 900 established trees to be sacrificed to the metro rail tunnel with unimaginable impact on native animals across inner Melbourne.

Between 8.30 and 9 pm one evening this week a friend and I counted 30 possums emerging from tree dens, after watching with delight countless rainbow lorikeets returning to their breeding hollows, in the very trees designated for initial removal.

We are currently in discussion with project coordinators to develop a plan to rescue and relocate the native creatures that now call University Square home,whilst knowing well that the level of disruption this process will involve is potentially life threatening. No rescue plan will fully protect the animals who have lived and bred in this habitat for generations and,together with the old trees, enhance and vitalise an otherwise sterile environment.

Considering that under current law relocation of possums must take place within a 50 metres radius of their original habitat there are no suitable trees outside of University Square itself where relocation can take place.. When the Lorikeets return to their nesting hollows next year, as they do annually, the trees will be gone. Possums will be cast adrift to die on the busy roads bordering the park.

It would be wisdom, especially in the face of gathering public disapproval of the proposed plan, to renew park flora gradually by planting new trees between the old so that they will grow and replace each dying tree incrementally over time.Wooden nesting boxes can be installed in remaining trees providing new homes for displaced possums within their familiar habitat.
The wanton destruction of trees that continue to fulfil a multiplicity of critical roles in our climate-challenged environment is unjustifiable given alternative approaches can be applied that save the trees while meeting urban planning goals.

NOTE There is still time to modify the University Square Master Plan. Become familiar with the proposed plan at: www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/universitysquare and lodge objections and suggestions to Steve Perumal, Email: [email protected]

For more details on the perils faced by Melbourne’s elms see article “ Melbourne’s elms are under threat” recently published in The Age:
http://www.theage.com.au/comment/melbournes-elms-are-under-threat-20161216-gtchi1.html