Sunday 19TH April 2015 10am-12noon
TreeCrops Hawke’s Bay FIELD TRIP: Guthrie-Smith Arboretum
3561 State Highway 2, alongside Lake Tutira approx. 30 minutes by car from Napier.
This well-established arboretum houses a huge variety of trees and shrubs from many different areas of the world. Some areas have signage explaining various aspects of the trees nearby, but on our visit we are fortunate to have knowledgeable plantsman Chris Ryan to refer to. Chris knows the arboretum like the back of his hand, and he will be taking us on a tour through specific plantings of treecrop interest.
We will learn about the suitability of many less common trees for bee-appeal, and be shown some that have already proved to be helpful to bees. The arboretum has plantings of interest to landowners, including a wide range of tree species suitable for erosion, woodlot or ornamental plantings. Selections of cropping tree species have now begun to produce fruit or nuts, including edible chestnuts from Europe, Japan and China, walnuts, almonds, figs, Chilean hazels, damsons, prune plums and pine nuts. We may also see new plantings of various trees recently introduced into New Zealand, including some Mexican oaks.
The arboretum is home to many different wild birds, and the views of the lake and hill country are magnificent. We will be there in autumn so foliage colour should be an added bonus.
Take you picnic lunch & liquids for a communal lunch after the tour.
There is so much to see you may wish to stay on after lunch and walk further afield.
Footwear appropriate for grassy tracks and modest slopes
Rain or shine event. Toilets available onsite near the carpark
TreeCrop & Arboretum sign at the front gate. Vehicle parking signage up the driveway.
Please consider carpooling, invite someone to share your trip.
For further info contact Chris Ryan or email Jenny Horne
Everyone Welcome.
NZTCA members a gold coin donation / Friends of Guthrie-Smith Trust free.
Non-member fee $10 per person, payable on arrival.
