Signs and seats to recognise the giants

Interpretive signage and seats have been installed to draw recognition of Drouin’s “giants”.

Friends of Drouin’s Trees, in conjunction with Baw Baw Shire Council, have installed eight signs and five seats as part of stage one project works.

A “giant” is a remnant tree with a trunk girth of four metres or more.

Drouin has in the order of 120 giants – 22 of which measure a trunk girth over six metres within the current residential town boundary.

Friends of Drouin’s Trees believe this is one of the great attributes of Drouin and what makes the town’s environment so unique.

Funding for the interpretive seats and signs was via the Federal Government’s “Stronger Communities Programme”. Baw Baw Shire Council provided technical knowhow, equipment and manpower.

Stage two will be ready for installation shortly.

Some signs are on council reserves and some on nature strips within the town. Each has detail of the tree name, species, background information and a small “factoid” about why trees and environment matter.

It also includes the walk number in the Drouin Tree Walks booklet and contact details.

Friends of Drouin’s Tree secretary Chris Healy says it’s more important than ever that we celebrate the remnant trees we have and keep them for as long as we can.

Drouin’s priceless trees are in danger of being lost with the rapid expansion of housing and new developments. Many of the valuable large trees line roadsides, forming beautiful vistas, restful places to walk, all the tree-attributes of shade, erosion prevention and water filtration as well as invaluable wildlife corridors.

The Friends of Drouin’s Trees would love to gain feedback and encourage people to send in comments and photos to their Facebook or blog page.