/MediaReleaseArborWeek2011

MEDIA RELEASE 28 April 2011 Arbor Week – local experts talk to schools at the Arboretum Over 480 students from 6 schools across the North West will be celebrating Arbor Week at the Tasmanian Arboretum in Eugenana during the month of May. The students will participate in a wide range of educational activities, including the opportunity to get their hands dirty planting trees.

Local experts and passionate Arboretum volunteers will be sharing their knowledge with the students. The presenters include Todd Walsh talking about freshwater lobsters found only in Northern Tasmania; John Bowden (from Parks and Wildlife) involving students in activities about Tasmania’s wildlife; Alan Mills discussing his speciality - fungi; Michael Thow (from All About Reptiles) talking about snakes and reptiles; Julia Butler-Ross talking about native wildlife rescue and care; Kiowa Fenner (from DPIPWE) talking about weeds; and Barb Murfet leading students in afternoon artwork activities.

Arbor Week highlights Arbor Day which was first observed on 20 June 1889, in Adelaide. On Arbor Day, particular attention is drawn to the role trees play in our lives; not just on that day but on every day throughout every year.

Ever popular, the Arbor Week schools educational program is again fully booked this year. School groups still have the opportunity to visit the Arboretum at other times, thanks to a team of dedicated volunteers who run year-round educational activities. The Arboretum is also open to the general public during the Arbor Week program, as well as daily throughout the year, from 9 am to sunset.

The Arbor Week activities are a joint initiative of the Tasmanian Arboretum Volunteers, Cradle Coast Natural Resource Management (NRM) through funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country, and the Devonport City Council.

End… Cradle Coast NRM works with community, industry, private enterprise and government to manage and improve our natural resources to ensure a healthy future for our region. This project is supported

by Cradle Coast NRM through funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country.

Cradle Coast NRM is a committee of the Cradle Coast Authority.

Media Contacts: Arboretum: Lee Cole Ph: 6425 4284 or lcole2@vtown.com.au Cradle Coast NRM: Karina Rose - Facilitator, Cradle Coast NRM Ph: 0409 240 864 or 6431 6285