Whether you want to hug a tree, climb one, hear a story about one, walk among them or just learn more about them, there is something for everyone in this year’s Canberra Tree Week.
Canberra Tree Week, from Saturday 4 May to Sunday 12 May, started in 2014 and has grown every year since.
Tree Protection Officer with the ACT Government Sam Ning said trees were important to Canberrans and the extensive urban forest was a big part of their lives in the ACT.
“Tree Week is a great chance to celebrate our trees, and we are encouraging Canberrans of all ages to get involved,” she said.
“With so many great events to choose from, there is something for all Canberrans, young and old.”
The ACT Tree Climbing Championships will be held at the Australian National Botanic Gardens on Saturday 4 May from 8 am to 4:30 pm.
The tree climbing competition consists of six events across the day including work climb, open ascent, speed climb, throwline, aerial rescue and masters. This year’s event includes a children’s climb.
“It is a great spectator sport for the whole family,” Ning said.
From 10 am to 12 pm on the same day the Harvest Group Market Stall will be held at the National Arboretum Canberra. Delicious jams, preserves and pesto made from fruit, vegetables and herbs harvested straight from the gardens and forests of the National Arboretum are on offer.
A mountain bike ride through Kowen Pine Plantation will be held on Sunday 5 May from 8:30 am to 12 pm. Visit a working commercial forest and enjoy a social cross country bike ride with friends, foresters and trail builders. Forester Peter Langdon, and hand-built trail legend Paul Cole will provide a guided tour through a mature pine forest, post-harvest second rotation pine forest, native timber reserves and woodland restoration areas.
The Scar Trees and Indigenous Plants talk at the Tuggeranong Library is a great chance to discover the cultural significance of trees to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The talk, presented by Adam Shipp from Yurbay, is on Monday 6 May from 2.30 pm to 3.30 pm.
On Tuesday 7 May from 10:30 am to 11:20 am the Tuggeranong Library will also offer a story time session full of tree themed stories, rhymes and songs suitable for three to five-year old children and their parents or carers.
Transport Canberra and City Services will host a symposium at the Australian National Botanic Gardens on Friday 10 May. The symposium offers an opportunity for you to hear from some of the tree industry’s leading experts.
Other activities include kite making, a Friends of ACT Trees dinner, tree plantings, poetry and a photography competition. There will also be a host of guided walks in parks, nature reserves, woodlands, forests and gardens.
For more information or to register for events visit www.tccs.act.gov.au