Community Tree Planting — 9 am, 5 October 2013

Members of the Friends at one of our earlier planting days.

Come along and plant a tree!

Members of the public will have the opportunity to actively contribute to the revival and improvement of Peacehaven in October. 

On Saturday, 5 October, Toowoomba Landcare Group, together with the Friends of Peacehaven Botanic Park and Toowoomba Regional Council will host a community tree planting day in Peacehaven Botanic Park.

In an area of existing, large eucalyptus trees, about 200 native shrubs and ground story plants will be established. This will result in a pocket of bush representing the layered vegetation of a native dry sclerophyll forest that once dominated our local landscape.

Everybody is welcome from 9am to help with planting. All tools and gloves will be supplied and volunteers can enjoy a free sausage sizzle after the activity.

Our community nursery will be open and it will also be an opportunity to take a walk through the park to see recent developments.

(For those who’ve always wondered sclerophyll is derived from the Greek sklēros hard  and phullon a leaf. Sclerophyllous plants are prominent throughout Australia, the Mediterranean Basin, Californian woodlands, Chilean Matorral, and the Cape Province of South Africa.)

200 Years of History

When Mayor Paul Antonio unveiled the ‘Stump in Time’, 200 years of history went on show. Despite the downpour right at the time of the occasion more than 50 Friends and members of the community made the morning a success.

Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio (right) and President of the Friends, George Smith,
with the 'Stump'. 

George, President of the Friends, made particular mention of Anna Smith “who had the original concept of the Stump in Time.  Anna is a former secretary and has been a tireless worker in many activities for the Friends.”
The "Stump" is a giant ancient Blackbutt and it demonstrates through its growth rings how Highfields has developed over the last two centuries. Information signs display landmark local and worldwide events in that time. Mosaics created by Anglicare volunteers illustrate some of Highfields history.

The Anglicare group who designed and created the mosaics.

The Friends have spent 2 years planning  this project. Preparing the stump, the design and installation of the signs and mosaics were possible with a grant from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund, Anglicare and the support of the Toowoomba Regional Council.

The growth rings in the Blackbutt stump.

The mature native trees at Peacehaven make it a special place. Stan Kuhl saw the value of these magnificent giants and donated the land to the community for centuries to come.