The Friends of the Melton Botanic Garden (FMBG) finished planting its 500th tree for the Queen’s Jubilee initiative on Wednesday, September 13.
Planting Trees for the Queen’s Jubilee is a federal government initiative providing funding to community groups to assist them in planting trees to honour 70 years of service of Queen Elizabeth II.
FMBG’s received $20,000 for the initiative, its planting kicked off with an event on October 20 last year and was completed this week.
The 500 new trees were planted along the eastern boundary of the Melton Botanic Garden, when it is fully developed the trees will create an avenue when approaching from Collins Road to what will one day be the main entrance and the Botanic Garden Centre.
FMBG president John Bentley said the project has given a sense of achievement and pride to all involved.
“It was sometimes hard work with either mud in 2022 during the rainy days or having ground like concrete during 2023,” he said.
“We are really thankful for everyone’s efforts in helping to achieve the goals of this project.”
Mr Bentley encouraged visitors to take a walk along the eastern track to see the trees and discover what has been planted.
“The Jubilee Avenue is a legacy for future generations to remember the wonderful environmental work the Queen encouraged across Commonwealth nations,” he said.
“We hope one day King Charles III will be able to plant a tree in the Jubilee Avenue.”
The Jubilee Avenue tree collection is documented in FMBG’s plant database IrisBG and is available to the public via Garden Explorer.
Details: melton.gardenexplorer.org
