This is a shot from a couple of years ago at the Sugar Pine Walk in the Bago State Forest (between Batlow & Tumbarumba). Sadly these amazing pines have been destroyed by the ferocious 2019/2020 summer bushfires. The trees were so badly damaged that they were dangerous & needed to be pulled down 🙁
A bit of history on the Sugar Pine Walk:
Sugar Pine (Pinus lamertina) is native to the west coast of America and is the largest and tallest of all pine species. The site was planted in 1928 as a range of different exotic species were being trialed by the forestry industry.
The site is sentimental to both Forestry Corporation staff and the wider community for the pine trees’ size and stature. The close planting of this species trial and the way the trees have grown over time created a unique cathedral-like experience for visitors walking under the canopy.
Preserving the memory:
Our staff are exploring how to mark the passing of the forest and how best to commemorate the loss.
Planning is underway for a replacement Sugar Pine Walk, with seedlings from the current site being collected for propagation and replanting. However, this will take a generation to grow into a Sugar Pine Walk akin to the one we have lost, so we are working to develop a visitor site in the forest for the local community.
To walk in amongst these gigantic trees was amazing.
Wow. That is terrific but sad to hear that they were all destroyed in the bushfires.
On a different topic Leggzy, I thought you may be interested in participating in this. https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/
I do it every year (provided I don't forget)
Ian
On a different topic Leggzy, I thought you may be interested in participating in this. https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/
I do it every year (provided I don't forget)