ARBOR DAY PLANTINGS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30511, 5 August 1964, Page 16

ARBOR DAY PLANTINGS

Coronation Forest

(N Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Aug. 4.

“The New Zealand landscape has been enhanced by millions of trees planted over the years since the first Arbor Day in 1890,” said the Direc-tor-General of Forests (Mr A. L. Poole), paying tribute to the tree-planting endeavours of schools, local bodies, beautifying societies and other organisations, which have kept alive the Arbor Day movement.

He said that on Arbor Day, August 12, undoubtedly the greatest working-bee of all will be at Coronation Forest, Golden Downs, Nelson, where the school children of Nelson city, and Waimea county are creating a forest to commemorate the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11. Over 800 children will work in the field this year and they will increase the total area planted to more than 140 acres. This is the tenth year of operations and the enthusiasm with which the children return to the task each season is a great encouragement to the district committee. Mr Poole said that the Forest Service would itself be making a valuable contribution to Arbor Day, in spite of a very heavy programme which should see 23,500,000 trees planted in State forests. Ornamental plantings will be carried out along forest verges, at station headquarters and adjacent to scenic vantage points. Officers will give practical aid to local committees and share in Arbor Day ceremonies.