Talk trees
2007-05-31
AN Arboretum is a place where an extensive variety of woody plants are cultivated for scientific, educational, and ornamental purposes.
And Drakenstein’s head of Parks and Recreation, Albert van der Merwe, is proud of the tree park.
He shared his knowledge at a recent symposium in Paarl.
“The mission of the Drakenstein Municipality is to ensure that Paarl Arboretum is dynamically managed, so that it delivers significant benefits to the region and to strive for international recognition and participation,” van der Merwe said.
The Arboretum, on the eastern embankment of the Berg River in central Paarl, was first proposed in 1957 and the layout established between 1959 and 1971. The official opening was on 1 October 1987.
The lay-out is according to continents, with Africa carrying 153 spesies, Asia 185 spesies, Australasia 113, North America 93, South America 48 and Europe 81.
The Arboretum is now used for jogging, cycling, educational outings, birdwatching and picnicing.
An independent tree expert is currently reidentifying all the spesies in the Arboretum, after which new identification plaques will be erected to replace those vandalised or stolen.
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