Their Excellencies General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC and Lady Cosgrove – 20/7/2015


Mr Andrew Barr MLA, and heir Excellencies General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC Mr Andrew Barr MLA, and Their Excellencies General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC with school kids

On 20 July 2015, the ACT Chief Minister, Mr Andrew Barr MLA, joined Their Excellencies General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC and Lady Cosgrove, to plant a Dove tree (Davidia involucrata) in Central Valley to mark the start of the second annual Canberra Tree Week. Teachers and students from Giralang Primary School were also special guests at the tree planting.

GG Cosgrove planting with school kids

Canberra Tree Week is organised to promote and celebrate the importance of trees through a diverse program of events organised across Canberra.

Trees are important as habitat and food for our bird species and other fauna. They provide significant landscape and aesthetic value, clean air, carbon storage and temperature regulation.

The ACT Government manages over 700,000 trees in residential streets, along roads, in urban parks and other open space areas throughout the city.

Ceremonial trees planted from around the world

The National Arboretum Canberra is home to over 44,000 trees from more than one hundred nations. Many Australian and international leaders and public figures have planted ceremonial trees at the National Arboretum, including Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; His Excellency Jose Ramos-Horta, President of the Republic of Timor-Leste; renowned Australian author, Mr Thomas Keneally and Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.

Through ceremonial tree plantings and other special events, the National Arboretum Canberra builds partnerships with local, national and international organisations, individuals and communities to further its role in global tree conservation and research.