8 It has been another year of storms and cyclones damaging botanic gardens along the East Coast, inland and overseas. Hunter, Lismore and Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens were all affected. Historic Botanic Gardens in Ireland, Wales, England, and Scotland received damage from Storm Eowyn on January 24th. Many wonderful private and public gardens have been equally affected. Alfred devastates beloved Botanic Gardens which took the full brunt of the wind. Fortunately, there was minimal damage in the Australian Defence Force Memorial Grove planted to honour Australian fatalities from the Afghanistan conflict, as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Avenue and Woodland Walk and Rosser Garden. After the loss of trees up to 160 years old in the four of Scotland’s Botanic Gardens in the massive Storm Eowyn on January 24, Simon Milne, Regius Keeper of Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh commented “Every tree has a history, a botanical value, and a conservation value”. Gold Coast Curator Paul Cockbain shared Milne’s sentiment “Every one of the trees we lost was significant”. All botanic gardens including ours on the Gold Coast are on a lifelong journey. They are a place to learn the mysteries of nature, sometimes a place to acknowledge the past, and always a place to forge the future. Images compliments of P.Cockbain FOOTNOTE : There will be a poster display and information about the damage and recovery at the Friends’ Centre. At the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens, Staff, Friends of the Botanic Gardens, the community, and visitors to the Botanic Gardens will be saddened and shocked at the loss of over 150 trees as well as structural damage and the loss of branches. Some of the Plant Collections have been set back 20 years and recovery work will stretch into the coming months and years. Trees planted on the first Community Planting Day in 2003 were lost. Some were rare or threatened species, including smaller plant species crushed by falling trees or flooded for many days. Others were planted as a commemoration, such as the Benowa Tree planted by the late Gene Rosser, then Friends’ Patron, with children from Benowa State School. There are also damaged trees in the Callitris Grove planted in 2015 by visiting Turkish Artists to commemorate the centenary of the Anzac Gallipoli Landing. Sadly the Story of Our Country and Fruits of the Forest Plant Collections which both celebrate plants known as edible or useful by our First Nation Australians sustained major losses. There has been extensive damage to the Gum Tree Corridor Tree Planted on Community Planting Day in 2003 Rosser Garden Damage 0417 294 778 A Touch of Grass Garden Care GARDEN CLEANUPS / REJUVENATION & MAKEOVERS A SPECIALTY We offer an experienced, professional and reliable service Call Jeremy on ... Est. Gold Coast since 2001 Let us create your new and rejuvenated garden where you can sit back, relax and enjoy your tranquil surroundings ... Specialising Garden Makeovers & Rejuvenation * Garden Care * Plant Selection * Soft Landscaping
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