N e ws l e t t e r

www.eastwoodhill.org.nz

Autumn/Winter 2014like us on

Join us on Anzac Day

April 25, 2014

Tasty Leaf Café

open every day

from 10am

April 17 to May

18, 2014.

A place to be‘The Circus’ – The origin of this name goes back to the 1920s. In 1927 the roads were metalled for the first time and accessible in winter. Before this, the only way to transport goods up to Rere and beyond to Wharekopae, was with bullock teams. Douglas Cook let the bullockies and drovers camp in this area. He described the noise from grog-fuelled singing, cooking preparations and bellowing animals as a ‘circus’. The Plane and Elm trees are magnificent along the Wharekopae roadside. Old fashioned apple trees planted for the drovers still exist and in the autumn the Circus is still as vibrant as ever.

A flower to seeLiriope muscari is a tough little favourite here at Eastwoodhill. It is a ground cover plant that leads from the Visitor Centre to the homestead garden. Its large violet-blue flower spikes rise above the foliage; it is evergreen, a perennial and native to Japan. This wee cutie is simply stunning planted en masse and ideal for those gloomy spots. They are also wonderful under trees, will grow in full sun or part-shade and can be propagated from seed in autumn or by division in early spring.

A memory madeCutting across from the Cathedral, I cross over the yellow and red leaf walks, hedging my way towards a distinct gully that leads to the Williams Memorial. I come across a sign ‘Bathing Pool Hill’ – a strange name for this particular spot.

Glancing backward over the open, expansive, freshly-mown lawn, I am blown away by yet another exquisite view. Strikingly beautiful are the autumn maples and mid-view conifers in all different shapes and sizes. They exude deep forest green hues. The Magnolias, unmistakably impressive, also fit well into this wonderful landscape.

After researching the sign, it is apparently where Eastwoodhill founder Douglas Cook used to bathe. There was a bathing pool there which has long been filled in.

The pleasure ofEAst woodhill

www.eastwoodhill.org.nz 2

Come and join us at the best day on the eastwoodhill calendar. the Autumn extravaganza held every Anzac day – April 25, 2014.eastwoodhill was born out of the war - Douglas Cook was injured at Gallipoli and went to england to recuperate. whilst there he enjoyed the beautiful english landscapes and wanted to recreate a piece of that at his home. subsequently he became more concerned when nuclear holocaust was threatened and so he made eastwoodhill the northern hemisphere tree sanctuary it is today.

this year we are very excited to be having the travelling tuataras performing group dishing out large helpings of adventure art, singing, storytelling and much more. Ukes on Utes will be back with their stylish ukulele entertainment and locals Amanda Mclean and silke steffin will delight the crowds with a bit of acrobatics and performance.

the old favourite Bear hunt will be back, we will have croquet on the lawn and stalls selling all sorts of goodies. Food, sausage sizzles and plenty of fun for the kids. Anzac Day will be formally commemorated at 1pm with the playing of the last post and an opportunity to pay your respects to those who served on our behalf.

eftpos is only available at the visitor centre shop so it’s best to make sure you bring cash for the gate entry of $5 per person or $20 per carload. And plenty of coins for the numerous cupcakes, sausages and other things you will have to have!

Join us for an AnzAc dAy ExtrAvAgAnzA

Where: eastwoodhill Arboretum, 2392 wharekopae road, rD2, Gisborne.

When: Friday April 25, 11am start.

Entry: $5 per person or $20 per carload.

Bring: teddy bears, picnic essentials, good walking shoes, cash.

In case of wet weather: Details will be announced on Classic Hits and MoreFM cancellations.

www.eastwoodhill.org.nz 3

Autumn is almost upon us again and we are busy getting ready for the annual influx of visitors. It has been an amazing 12 months at eastwoodhill where we have seen great progress in many areas. with that in mind we are also pleased that for the first time since we have been keeping accurate records of visitors we will reach the 10,000 visitor mark this year. this is a significant change – 2500 more than last year and 2800 more than 2011–2012.

the star performer in this category has been our rogaine and children’s education delivered in conjunction with the tairawhiti Museum educators. this partnership has seen our children’s education programme participation increase from 148 children in 2011–12 to nearly 1800 in the 2013–14 year with one month still to go. this does not take into account children who visit the park outside the education programme which was another 600.

As you know we have been working really hard on operational issues getting our house in order in preparedness for a capital works programme that will invigorate eastwoodhill and entice more people to come and visit us more often.

In addition we have been extremely fortunate to work through a long feasibility study process and funding discussions with the eastland Community trust. As a result the trust has allocated $466,000 to capital projects at eastwoodhill in the next two years.

the first of these is the playground project which you can read more about in this newsletter and the second is an upgrade of the Visitor Centre to a more educational focus with better catering, function and conference facilities.

we are currently instigating funding discussions with other funders to secure the remaining money for these projects.

we are also working on a Us Foundation for eastwoodhill to attract donations from American philanthropists. A partnership has been established with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York City and Chapman tripp in wellington is sponsoring some legal assistance through its pro-bono programme. we will be working with them and others for the betterment of eastwoodhill as a whole.

I hope you will come and visit us in the autumn when eastwoodhill traditionally puts on its greatest show. Anzac day will be a key feature for us again so gather all your family together and come and join us for a great family day out with lots of fun and entertainment on offer.

If there is anything you would like to know about please contact us and we will be happy to help.

DanaGeNer Al MANAGer email: generalmanager@eastwoodhill.org.nz

General manager’s report

EIT’s horticulture programmes provide hands-on learning with flexible study options; on-job and on-campus, full-time and part-time.

CertificateinSustainableHorticulture; •GrowingandusingNZnatives•Fruitproductionmethods•Sustainablelifestyle

NationalCertificateinHorticulture(Introductory)

CertificateinGrapegrowingandWinemaking

GROW YOUR CAREER AT TAIRÄWHITI

NO9-04800

Enrol now for semester two!

0800 22 55 348 www.aghort.eit.ac.nz

treeman a wonderful gifteastwoodhill will be the home to a nationally recognised sculptor’s work thanks to the generosity of thomas and Gail Corson.the treeman, a corten steel sculpture by renowned Auckland sculptor James wright, was installed at eastwoodhill this week just in time for autumn.

"treeman is the first in what we hope will become a well-managed and thought-out sculpture trail at eastwoodhill," said general manager Dana Kirkpatrick.

the Corsons had seen the “treeman” in Auckland and thought it would be great at eastwoodhill given it is so obviously linked to the arboretum by its subject matter.

“we are extremely grateful for the very generous donation of this wonderful piece of art. It fits perfectly with the site and can almost be dedicated to Douglas Cook, who was indeed – a treeman.”

sculptor James wright travelled to eastwoodhill with the sculpture to install it and said he was delighted treeman was standing in a place where it fitted so perfectly.

treeman was originally produced for the Auckland Botanic Gardens sculpture exhibition where it was a crowd favourite. He was described as reaching up to the sky with his feet firmly rooted in the earth. this work shows the morphing from man to land, respecting and protecting our environment, working together as one.

James wright prefers working with mixed mediums such as corten steel, copper and rock. Created with a strong emphasis on design, his work reflects the hands-on process of transforming raw materials into contemporary sculpture.

Above eastwoodhill is now the proud home of “treeman” a James wright sculpture donated by thomas and Gail Corson. From left James wright, thomas and Gail Corson and eastwoodhill curator Benedict lyte. Photo courtesy of the Gisborne Herald.

TreeMan poem

Majestic, tall and strong Powerful, life giving, aged food, seed, hopes Am I a tree? Am I a tree Majestic, tall and strong a tree am I this tree?

Could I be a tree? Powerful, life giving, aged a tree, am I this tree?

I want to be a tree food, seeds, hope A tree, I am this tree

– Anon.

Join us to see more sculpture and bouquets!More of James’s work will be available at the Backyard Bouquets and sensational sculpture event being held on April 27 at the tw Barn, 1121 Back Ormond rd. Former Gisbornite, floral artist Kirsten Corson will be at the barn to delight you with a workshop on creating cool things from your garden and James will talk about his sculpture and bring with him numerous pieces for sale. Make sure you don’t miss out. Tickets are $40 and are available from ExpressPR, 130 Ormond Rd or Eastwoodhill by phoning. All proceeds from this event will go towards the “cathedral” project at Eastwoodhill.

One of Cook’s early plantings at Eastwoodhill was his rendition of Westminster Cathedral planted in Eucalyptus, Cryptomeria and Lawson Cypress. The Master plan sought to honour this achievement with a new planting along similar lines. The new Cathedral will be a grand installation that will honour his memory, whilst creating a space for the future.

The design is being undertaken by Thomas Woltz and his team. In Thomas’s words, the Cathedral will be an ecumenical space open to all spheres, creeds and backgrounds. It taps into the quality of the sacred found in nature. It will have the same feeling as one gets upon entering a clearing in a forest. The interior of the space will feature a high canopy, whilst the side canopy is made up of thicker, lower and denser planting. As one enters the space it will feel like a place of gathering.

In the past, Cathedrals were a community build, often over several generations. The hope is that local communities, groups and volunteers will help with the planting and ongoing development of the Cathedral. The Friends of Eastwoodhill will be busy raising the funds needed to undertake the planning and groundwork prior to the planting of the cathedral.

Curator's report – Autumn 2014

BenedictCu R ATO R email: curator@eastwoodhill.org.nz

www.eastwoodhill.org.nz 6

It has been a busy few months in the arboretum as I’ve been getting my teeth into a few projects I’d been looking at since starting here. I have been very fortunate to have had the assistance of emma and will, two young UK interns, who’ve been volunteering since last October. You can read more of the work they’ve been involved with later in the newsletter.

The role of a curator is not an easy one to define, particularly with the set-up and resources available at Eastwoodhill. Essentially it is to ensure the collection is maintained, developed and understood. With that in mind, I have been working on two fronts over the summer. Firstly, there have been areas where we wanted to highlight the trees that are the reason the park exists.

We have been opening up areas that had become choked with invasives and natives alike. The Cathedral has been weeded, allowing the shape to be once again made out and enjoyed. In the late afternoon, as the sunlight comes in from the west, the drama of the tree trunks is brought alive.

Couple this with the dappled play of light through and under the maples edging the area, and the effect is magical. Further into the core of the garden, one of the more horticulturally diverse and important areas has received a major makeover.

Cedar Garden was established by Cook to show off the floriferous shrubs, such as Deutzia, Viburnum, Indigofera and other similar plants. Over the years, other plants had taken over, and the effect has been lost. Throughout January and February, the weeds have been removed, paths cleared and shrubs pruned. It looks a little shell-shocked at the moment, but in a few months, new growth will have developed, and the plants will once again be the heroes of the design. Often, visitors are somewhat taken aback at what appears to be radical and severe, but plants are well used to being attacked.

They have adapted strategies to survive browsing by animals, or damage from environmental influences, and it is these adaptations that we can use for better pruning and shaping in our own gardens.

The second front I have been working on is more academic. Plant names are always being revised, changed and altered. Recently, scientists have undertaken wholesale reviews of plant families, categorising them by their DNA characteristics, to develop better groupings of similar characteristics. It is for this reason that our native flax is aligned to the daylily, and maples have moved out of their own family, Aceraceae and into Sapindaceae. It’s important that the database reflects this, as well as horticultural classifications. With this in mind, I am reviewing all the plant names in our catalogue and updating them accordingly. A slow job, but a worthwhile one for such an important collection as exists here.

Over the winter, longer-term planning for the development of the master plan will take place, and I hope to bring news of one of the first projects to be started in the next edition of the newsletter. In the meantime, enjoy the autumn colour for which the arboretum is justly famous and marvel at the spectacle nature so graciously lays on for us.

Below Picture of the clearance done in Cedar Gardens. This area was so overgrown before you could not see the paths or edges.

some trees can be guaranteed to produce good colour in the autumn, whilst others are shyer. the tupelo falls into the first category, always providing a great show. the Black tupelo, named from the Native American for tree and swamp, originates from eastern North America. It can make a large tree, up to 25 metres, commonly with a very straight trunk. the main feature is, as described, the extraordinary autumn colour, with foliage becoming purple and then fading to a fiery scarlet. It grows in wetlands and uplands in its native habitat, often found in close proximity to sweet gum (liquidambar styraciflua), another good autumn colour tree. whilst not noted for its flowers, they are reported to be a good source of honey. Horticulturally, the tupelo is a good ornamental specimen tree for parkland or the larger garden, forming a pyramid shaped tree as it ages. If space allowed, a grove would make for a spectacular feature in the autumn.

It is only relatively recently that scientists have properly understood why there is such good colour from some deciduous trees in the autumn. Nature tends to be efficient in all its processes, and a leaf turning red has great benefits for the tree.

Firstly, nutrients contained in the leaves are being extracted and returned to the roots for use the following spring. In other words, it's creating an energy store, much as a hibernating animal would do. the second reason is for protection. the cells in leaves are very sensitive to damage as they form and also die. the red pigmentation protects these cells from excess damage from the sunlight in the autumn, allowing the nutrient recycling to take place more effectively.

In the spring, leaves often emerge red to allow the cells to develop fully before photosynthesis starts to take place. this safeguarding mechanism provides another benefit and asset for the gardener, extending the season of interest and providing a fiery show to bring on the start of winter.

Nyssa sylvatica Black tupelo

trEE of thE sEAson

cApitAl fUnding inJEction froM Ect wElcoMEd

the grant has been split into three portions, $66,000 to complete design phases for capital projects including a “wow factor” natural playground, upgrades to the visitor centre and café, an interpretation project in the park creating stories throughout the collection, the recreation of a replica Cathedral –like project to carry Douglas Cook’s legacy forward for the next 100 years and a new entrance and gate way.

A total of $200,000 is attributed to the playground build and $200,000 for the upgrade to the Visitor Centre and Café.

eCt general manager leighton evans said eastwoodhill is a long standing entity with a track record of prudent management and governance. the board has a plan to collaborate with other funders and this grant gives them an initial boost to start that funding drive.

“the trust felt the projects proposed had been through a robust

selection and feasibility process and that the entire community would benefit from improvement to local facilities and visitor offerings.

“eastwoodhill is on track, this year, to reach a record number of visitors and these projects will help them attract more people to the region and ensure financial surety,” he said.

eastwoodhill trust Board chairman Peter Jackman said the funding announcement was a very much appreciated start to funding the capital programme which is likely to cost more than $2.4 million over the next ten years.

“we are right in the middle of fundraising for these projects and this grant from eCt has given us a fantastic start when approaching other funding agencies and benefactors.”

the grant follows an initial investment by eCt of $20,000 into the feasibility study.

the eastwoodhill trust Board will receive a capital projects grant of $466,000 from the eastland Community trust to develop new attractions and better visitor services at the arboretum.

The playgroundeastwoodhill wants to have the best playspace in New Zealand, the play area that every family in Gisborne has to come to because the kids love it so much.

We are one step closer now with the design finished and approved by the board to go through to the next stage of funding applications.

The $200,000 allocated to the playground by the Eastland Community Trust has been a significant boost and has secured the project as first cab off the ranks.

Leading New Zealand play space designer Tina Dyer from Play Central was commissioned to design “the most awesome natural playground”.

Eastwoodhill general manager Dana Kirkpatrick said the play area will be situated close to the visitor centre for easy access to the café, toilets and the education centre. It will have a designated area for pre-school children and there will be large areas for the more adventurous – including some of the biggest swings in the country.

“There will be no yellow plastic slides here, all the elements are designed to blend into our existing environment without looking too contrived. “The site is steep but that provides so many opportunities,” she said.

“One thing we learned is that adults know very little about what kids love to play with and what might look really boring to us can be fascinating to children. Tina has so much experience and her design has some fabulous elements for all ages.”

Eastwoodhill is delighted to be partnering with the Eastland Community Trust, the Wainui Host Lions and hopefully others to make this happen.

Playground concepts are yet to be finalised, but these pictures give you an idea of what may be included.

This 40 tonne macrocarpa by the Visitor Centre was cut down to make room for the playground and will be used as part of it.

A big thank youeastwoodhill enjoys incredible support from a number of agencies and grant organisations. In this newsletter we would like to specifically thank the following.

The Clark Charitable Trust for assisting us in funding $13,490 fora new Kawasaki Mule for the property manager.

First Sovereign for a grant of $7000 to paint the manager’s cottage.

Mangatawa Beale Williams Memorial Trust for $1000 to build a new composting facility.

And the Lion Foundation for $7200 to help cover operational costs of running the visitor centre such as electricity and communications.

we are currently applying for further funds to implement our playzone project and a project called the story Forest which is centred around interpretation and storytelling in the park to make it more interesting to a broad cross section of visitors.

Driving down the entrance drive for the first time in the spring of 2013 we knew we had made the right choice to come and volunteer at eastwoodhill. we feel very fortunate to have had the beautiful surroundings of the arboretum as our home and work place.we have relished the opportunity to work closely with Benedict, the curator, and all the staff on a wide range of tasks and projects. It has been very satisfying to gain valuable experience and knowledge whilst working hard to enhance this most unique of tree collections in New Zealand.

the restoration work that we have carried out in the cathedral and cedar gardens has been particularly rewarding. Both areas have a proud historical status in the park, but were in need of some attention. It is, therefore, very pleasing to have been able to reinvigorate both sites so that visitors will once again get the full impact of their original designs.

It has been great to see the pleasure on the faces of visitors as they explore eastwoodhill, and the affection that Gisborne locals have for the arboretum. we would love to see more people enjoying the many trees and vistas in the park, and taking away their own special memories.

we would encourage anyone to volunteer at eastwoodhill, whether that is on full time basis like us, or just for a few hours every week or every month. there is always worthwhile work to be done, new skills to be learnt, and a friendly community of committed people to welcome you.

Above Curator Benedict lyte and interns will George and emma Beckinsale during the makeover of Cedar Gardens.

volUntEEring at Eastwoodhill

Jon, a man with a passion for trees, died recently after a brief illness.

Jon came to Gisborne in the early 1960s as a horticultural advisor with the Ministry of Agriculture. He later established a citrus orchard at waerenga-a-hika which he ran with his wife stella and their four children.

He served on the Gisborne Farm Forestry committee for many years and was elected to the eastwoodhill trust Board in about 1980. As the Gisborne Farm Forestry representative, his wide botanical

Will & Emma

friEnds of EAst woodhill

whilst we are excited about the challenges ahead of us, we will be sad to leave eastwoodhill. we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the staff and friends for giving us such a warm welcome and for making our time here so memorable.

knowledge and attention to detail was much appreciated.

After selling the orchard shortly after Cyclone Bola, he bought a small block of land at Otoko where he built his home and started planting trees in earnest. He had a passion for Magnolias as well as other species. Over the next twenty years he created his own arboretum containing an impressive collection of interesting specimens, many of which he propagated himself.

His legacy lives on. r.F.

Jon Douglas Overbye, 4 November 1929 – 26 February 2014

EvEnts on the horizon

www.eastwoodhill.org.nz 11

Eastwoodhill Quiz NightFriday June 13, 2014

Join us on Friday the 13th for the annual eastwoodhill fundraiser and quiz night. Held at the Patutahi Hall it is a great night out with fun and laughter for all.

Dress your team up to win the best dressed prize. $10 per person, teams of up to six people.

Be in quick it was a sell-out crowd last time and an awesome night. Catering and bar on site for the night. Book your team with eastwoodhill on 06 863 9003.

trEEs for BEEsMay 9 and 10, 2014

the second eastwoodhill trees for Bees conference has a dual focus, discussing the recent trees for Bees research of Dr linda Newstrom-lloyd and the practical applications of tree choice, which will be shown with visits to several demonstration farms in the area.

the multiple benefits of planting high quality pollen resources to increase bee numbers, while meeting complementary goals such as erosion control, riparian protection or manuka honey harvesting, will be a key area of discussion.

For more comprehensive information please visit our website www.eastwoodhill.org,nz or call Cherie on 06 867 7444. Be in quick – last time this sold out and there are only a limited number of seats.

fr iEnds of EAst w o odhi ll AgMMay 18, 2014

the Friends AGM will be held at eastwoodhill on May 18, 2014 and will include afternoon tea and a guided walk in the garden with Benedict the curator. All members are welcome to come along. the friends are always looking for new members and volunteers so come and see what you can do to lend a hand.

B Ay l E y s i n s i d E o U t House Tour Tentatively November 2, 2014

Following the raging success of our House tour in 2012, we are back into organising mode to try and get another one of these on the journey.

If you know of a fabulous home, or have seen one you would like to have a look around, please let us know.

More details will follow in the spring newsletter and keep an eye on our website for more details. www.eastwoodhill.org.nz

BAckyArd BoUqUE ts And Sensational SculptureApril 27, 2014, 1.30pm

Join floral artist Kirsten Corson and renowned sculptor James wright for an afternoon at tw Barn. Kirsten will deliver a workshop on creating fabulous bouquets from your backyard for your home and other occasions. James will talk about his sculpture and he will bring with him numerous pieces for sale as well. Make sure you don’t miss out. tickets are $40 and are available from expressPr 130 Ormond rd or eastwoodhill P: 06 863 9003.

Adopt A trEE

two of eastwoodhill’s finest specimens – commonly known as Fatty and skinny – need someone to love them. As part of our Adopt a tree programme you could be the proud carers of these two beautiful trees.

Fatty is a Cryptomeria japonica ‘Compacta’ and skinny is an Italian Cypress or Cupressus sempervirens. Both were planted in 1934 and are some of the oldest trees in the park. located near the williams Memorial you don’t have to walk too far to see them and they love visitors.

Adopt a tree is one way we raise money to pay for maintenance and repair of the collection over time. You sign up for three years and in that time we send you updates about your tree and a photo of anything that is done to it. Fatty and skinny are $1000 each per annum for three years.

they would love you to be their friend! Call Bobbi and talk to her about the programme. 06 863 9003.

Fatty and Skinny need somebody to love…

Name Catalogue number Year Location Nickname

1. Cryptomeria japonica ‘Compacta’ CB 0207 1934 Homestead Garden Fatty

2. Cupressus sempervirens Italian cypress CB 0206 1934 Homestead Garden skinny

Quality trees for the future400 species of trees are grown

to produce vigorous tops and balanced, well-developed

root systems.

Contact us to receive our full colour catalogue reference guide. Available in late April.

160 Wakefield-Kohatu Hwy, RD1 Wakefield, Nelson p 03 541 8309 e info@appletons.co.nz

www.appletons.co.nz

hoMEstEAd gArdEn

Above View from the lawn to the sundial with autumn colour beginning in the trees behind. Top the flower gardens are tended by a dedicated team of volunteers. Left the fabulous Gordonia tree is a Homestead Garden favourite.

Guided coloured walks walking around the arboretum involves coming into contact with over 3500 different trees, shrubs and climbers from around the globe. with over 25kms of tracks and walks, there is something suitable for everyone. we have new yellow and purple guided walk brochures. these guide you through the particular walk, with details on specific trees which are marked along the way. they are $2 each and proving very popular among visitors.

the yellow walk is designed to see most of the park without too much hill climbing. whereas the purple walk is very similar but goes further out into the park to take in some of the picturesque outlook.

EAst woodhill

Purple Walk

estimated time: 1hrDistance: 3km + extended walk

= 4.8km)Grade: Moderate (steep if doing

the extended walk)

Yellow Walkestimated time: One hourDistance: 2km (plus extended walk: 3.8km)Grade:

easy (steep if doing the extended walk)

Bee amazed! Did you know? Acorns are believed to have been one of mans first foods, used by the ancient Romans who roasted them on embers and served them as a course at feasts, or ground them into a flour to make bread.

At the end of the 7th Century in England, land was measured and valued according to its swine feeding capacity as was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Special laws relating to “pannage” were used, defined as ‘the feeding or the right of feeding swine in a forest, or the payment for this”. Acorns being high in carbohydrates and fat were useful for fattening livestock and therefore land with oaks on them would have been more valuable.

Eastwoodhill would have been of immense value as we have over 95 species of oaks growing hundreds of oak trees. These days it is mostly the ducks and children who enjoy the oaks’ bounty as acorns are no longer recommended as stock food, other vegetable matter must be supplied to counter the strong binding effects of the acorns.

Education at

www.eastwoodhill.org.nz 14

* Walk brochures only available at Eastwoodhill Visitor Centre.

Douglas Cook compared eastwoodhill’s climate to the mildest parts of Britain but with much more sunshine and much less humidity. As the park was being developed, sharp winter frosts affected plants in low-lying areas.

“As the garden starts at about 400ft above sea level there is quite a range of climate. If a tree, shrub or plant is frost tender in one area we move it higher up the hill till it finds a spot in which it will thrive. In a garden of hills and gullies it is amazing the problems there are. It is a lot of fun succeeding eventually with a thing that has beaten you for years” (Berry, 1997, p.14). No ailing plant with a possibility of survival was wasted: “what appear to be duds are not thrown away here; they are moved to less conspicuous positions and given a chance” (Berry, 1997, p.14).

EAst woodhill trEEs in thE EArly yEArs

Cook purchased 1996 trees and shrubs in 1919 and 3387 trees and shrubs in 1920. 2500 of those were for the garden. He wrote: “in 1920 a very large consignment of trees and shrubs was brought in from Hawkes Bay, but the weather broke when half had been delivered and the balance had to be sledged and brought in on pack horses for the last five miles over roads churned into a sea of mud. there were no tar-sealed roads in New Zealand then, unless in taranaki, and the country roads in our district were clay or just earth. wonderful days followed; 8ft high specimens soon made certain areas look park-like and a large and varied shrubbery came into being. looking back, how poor those shrubs were, how small the area. Yet we thought them wonderful – they were the best available in New Zealand in 1920.”

Stories from the archives historicAl focUs

nAtUrE vErsUs nUrtUrEFrost no match for a gardener’s dedication

References: Berry, J. (1997). A man’s tall dream. Gisborne: The Eastwoodhill Trust Board.

Douglas Cook’s first garden plantings between 1918 and 1926 were in a long narrow strip down to the Cabbage tree Avenue. this view is within the present Homestead Garden between the tractor sheds and the lower lawn.

A sUccEssion plAn BEgins

In 1952, the importation of plant material continued. Douglas Cook was 71 years old and had dedicated his remaining years to the development of his garden and so he sold 925 acres of his farmland for 20,000 pounds. some of that money went into development of the Circus area in eastwoodhill and some was used to develop ponds throughout the park. (Berry, 1997, p.37).

Above Douglas Cook’s first garden plantings between 1918 and 1926 were in a long narrow strip down to the Cabbage tree Avenue. this view is within the present Homestead Garden between the tractor sheds and the lower lawn.

www.eastwoodhill.org.nz 15

www.eastwoodhill.org.nz 16

MEMBErshipWhy become a member at Eastwoodhill?

• Unlimitedentryfor12months• 10%discountonsomeitemsinthe

Eastwoodhill shop• Memberschildrenarefree• Theknowledgeyouarehelpingprotect

a national treasure• Informationaboutwhatishappening

at Eastwoodhill• Newsletters• Youcanhelpintheparkorinthe

Visitor Centre

Single annual membership is $45 and dual annual membership is $80.

Also for those who wish to contribute a little more, there are two corporate options available:

Annual gold membership $495 (This is made up of a $45 membership fee and a $450 donation)

Annual silver membership $195 (this is made up of a $25 membership fee and a $170 donation)

To download a membership form: Go to www.eastwoodhill.org.nz/membership/ and post it with your payment to:

Memberships Eastwoodhill Arboretum 2392 Wharekopae Road, RD2 Gisborne, New Zealand

Member renewals will be sent out in June 2014.

contAc tsPhone: 06 863 9003 Email: enquiries@eastwoodhill.org.nz Website: www.eastwoodhill.org.nz

Opening hours: Weekdays 9am–5pm Sat and Sun 9am–4.30pm

Eastwoodhill Trust Board Peter Jackman (Chair) John Clarke Marcus Williams Paul Pollock Pru Roberts (Friends of Eastwoodhill Chair) Patrick Willock

Newsletter design by ExpressPR and printing by Te Rau Print.

visitor cEntrE shopNew in stock – 'Very groovy keep me warm Merino Mitts and Scarves'. These are great pressies and awesome for keeping the chill off those gardening hands when you still need to use your fingers!

We have plenty of other new stock coming in all the time. Our autumn sales table has a great selection of gifts including gardening tools. There's something for everyone!