Suggested Plan for Tree Planting in Caulfield Park 2019-2020
With over a hundred different species, Caulfield Park contains the richest variety of species in Melbourne outside of the Royal Botanical Gardens.
Sadly, over the past few decades there has been a steady attrition of the number of trees in Caulfield Park and, as they have aged, a decline in the health of many of them.
There has also been a shortfall in completing the outlined programs for replanting trees, especially in relation to the upgrading and improvement of the ovals in the eastern end of the park at which time many mature trees were removed.
We understand that it will always be difficult for Council officers whose responsibilities extend to all the parks in Glen Eira, to be able to apply the attention needed to an individual park. The Friends of Caulfield Park have closely reviewed the trees throughout the whole of Caulfield Park and are pleased to provide an overall, consolidated, picture.
In addition to providing a map of the locations where action is desirable, we have identified many of the trees, both exotic and native, that are represented by just a single specimen.
Many of them are old and likely approaching the end of their lives.
We suggest that in making selections for future plantings that preference be given to duplicating them in order to retain the richness of species in Caulfield Park that was established by the far-sighted founders of the park over a hundred years ago.
We therefore include lists of both the single specie exotics and the corresponding list for natives.
Of course, both types of tree are found throughout the park, but in recent years it has become customary to emphasise natives in the east and exotics in the heritage end of the park.
There are merits both in following this approach or varying it.
The important thing is to get the tree planted. It is interesting to surmise how Caulfield Park would look now if they had been planted 20 years ago.
The accompanying map identifies about 40 specific locations for tree replacement or green-fields planting. This is supplemented by the map prepared for Council at the time of the southern ovals upgrade which specifically identifies both trees to be removed as a part of the program, and many others that were to be planted.
Not all of them were planted, especially around the northern perimeter of the ovals. Of those that were planted, not all of them survived.
We believe that this map, taken together with the listings of trees, will provide a unique opportunity for a once-off tree renewal that, when they are fully grown, will help return Caulfield Park to its former glory.
We, the Friends of Caulfield Park, therefore ask Council, through its officers, to allocate the modest sum required to enable this program to be activated in this coming financial year.
Sadly, over the past few decades there has been a steady attrition of the number of trees in Caulfield Park and, as they have aged, a decline in the health of many of them.
There has also been a shortfall in completing the outlined programs for replanting trees, especially in relation to the upgrading and improvement of the ovals in the eastern end of the park at which time many mature trees were removed.
We understand that it will always be difficult for Council officers whose responsibilities extend to all the parks in Glen Eira, to be able to apply the attention needed to an individual park. The Friends of Caulfield Park have closely reviewed the trees throughout the whole of Caulfield Park and are pleased to provide an overall, consolidated, picture.
In addition to providing a map of the locations where action is desirable, we have identified many of the trees, both exotic and native, that are represented by just a single specimen.
Many of them are old and likely approaching the end of their lives.
We suggest that in making selections for future plantings that preference be given to duplicating them in order to retain the richness of species in Caulfield Park that was established by the far-sighted founders of the park over a hundred years ago.
We therefore include lists of both the single specie exotics and the corresponding list for natives.
Of course, both types of tree are found throughout the park, but in recent years it has become customary to emphasise natives in the east and exotics in the heritage end of the park.
There are merits both in following this approach or varying it.
The important thing is to get the tree planted. It is interesting to surmise how Caulfield Park would look now if they had been planted 20 years ago.
The accompanying map identifies about 40 specific locations for tree replacement or green-fields planting. This is supplemented by the map prepared for Council at the time of the southern ovals upgrade which specifically identifies both trees to be removed as a part of the program, and many others that were to be planted.
Not all of them were planted, especially around the northern perimeter of the ovals. Of those that were planted, not all of them survived.
We believe that this map, taken together with the listings of trees, will provide a unique opportunity for a once-off tree renewal that, when they are fully grown, will help return Caulfield Park to its former glory.
We, the Friends of Caulfield Park, therefore ask Council, through its officers, to allocate the modest sum required to enable this program to be activated in this coming financial year.
