TREE PLANTING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 245, 29 July 1947, Page 2

TREE PLANTING

Policy irt the Borough ADDING BEAUTY TO DOMAIN An interesting report, outlining the future tree planting policy in the borough, was adopted by the, Ashburton Domain Board at last evening’s meeting. This report, by the curator, Mr A. P. Morgan, envisages enhanced beauty in the Domain by the addition of flowering trees and others which are notable for bright autumn foliage.

Mr Morgan’s report was as follows

“It is strongly recommended that the future tree planting policy in the Domain should be mainly concentrated on using good flowering types, and those which are outstanding for autumn coloured foliage. There is a very distinct lack of this type of tree over the whole of the Domain, in comparison with the evergreen and coniferous types, with the result that the general appearance is rather heavy and lacking colour and brightness. From the point of view of shelter, and as a background planting, the existing trees are excellent and provide all that is necessary so- far as these two points ai;e concerned, but colour in spring and autumn is sadly lacking.

Adding Interest To Domain

“Against the dark background provided by the evergreens, flowering trees and bright foliage will show up to best advantage, and there are many areas where this can Ire taken advantage of. Several hundred trees of the type advocated could be planted in the next few years in the areas best suited to them, giving a far brighter appearance and adding greatly to the interest of the Domain as a whole.

“Until such time as street trees already planted are brought up to standard, and this is going to involve considerable work, it is recommended that no further plantings of this type be made for the next three or more years.

“The establishment of a tree and shrub nursery will enable young trees and shrubs to he grown on to plantingout size, ensuring the minimum losses and reducing the cost, of future plantings. The benefit of this scheme- will, of course, not be effective for several years.” ■ The report was adopted. Cr. H. G .Perrier stated that many excellent improvements had been made to the Domain by the curator and improved working methods were resulting in substantial savings. The speaker also paid a tribute to the admirable co-operation given by the engineer (Mr G. A. MacParlane) and the works staff. ■ .

Shade in Peter Street

A letter was also received from Mr F. X." McDonnell, of 40 Peter Street, asking if anything further had been done regarding the cutting down of trees in the Ashburton Domain, which, from February to September, kept the sun off houses in his neighbourhood, as well as making them, unnecessarily cold and damp. Several residents of that district had sent a petition to the council in April, 1946 and had received a reply sta ting that 1 he. matter had been referred to the domain curator (then Mr D. H. Leigh) for a report on tree replacement. Regarding this letter, the domain curator (Mr A. F. Morgan) reported that, to give immediate relief to Peter Street residents, it would be necessary to remove the whole of a large group of pines andmiacrocarpas on the west side of the oval between the Waireka Croquet Club courts and the pond. If this were done, thefe would be no shelter for the oval from the north-west quarter. A double roiv of cedars could be planted on the oval .side of the pond and, when large enough to provide shelter, the shading trees could be- removed. This would mean a delay of several years but, as the pines would have to come out eventually, shelter for the oval would be assured. Mr Morgan, therefore, recommended that cedars be planted as he had indicated and the pines left until some measure of shelter was provided by the cedars. The curator’s recommendation was adopted and it was decided to advise Mr McDonnell to this effect, with the added information that it would probably be 10 years before anv trees could he removed.