The Memory of Trees

Knox Tree Trails is an initiative by Knox Council to help discover our elder trees in our local reserves and open spaces – with a scattering of ‘named trees’ along Blind Creek Trail and around Wally Tew Reserve in Ferntree Gully.

Each of the elder trees has been given a name, with a card around its trunk also telling you what species it is and approximately how old the tree is.

Can you imagine some of the things and the changes the tree has seen there in its time, the stories it could tell? It is said that you can roughly tell the age of a tree by the rings in its trunk.

Keep an eye out on your walks, and get to know your local trees.

Barbara Oehring’s photo shows Wurun, the Manna Gum tree who sits on the Ferny Creek Bank adjacent to the Wally Tew Reserve in Ferntree Gully. The Council’s website introduces Wurun thus:

‘I am Wurun, I stand proudly to represent all that is good about trees. Wurun is the aboriginal name for Manna Gum. The Wurundjeri and Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation named me. My mission is to teach the world about the importance of protecting trees.’

Over his long 150 plus years Wurun has seen many changes to the area, including losing some of his best tree friends. With his age and wisdom, he wants to warn the world that cutting down trees will damage the environment and leave no more homes and food for the special animals found in Knox – such as the colourful Crimson Rosellas and the agile Sugar Gliders.

But Wurun hasn’t lost hope. He believes that with collective efforts from all in Knox, young and old, the unique plants and animals can enjoy and thrive in Knox just as we humans do – and better yet, Wurun can live on for many years to come – maybe late into his 200s!

You can find out more about the Knox Tree Trails at the Knox Council website, or email treetalk@knox.vic.gov.au to find out about individual trees.

Article originally appears in Ferntree Gully News.