Culturally Significant Landscape Elements Under Threat
Threat of Destruction
Some local councils in southern Australia have a policy of cutting down all non-native fruit trees on roadsides and poisoning the stumps. A number of apple trees and plum trees have already been destroyed.
There appear to be no plans to revegetate the areas left bare by removing the trees, which leaves them open to infestation by noxious weeds such as blackberries. There is also no provision for native birds such as king parrots which rely on the non-native fruit as an important food source, due to loss of original habitat.
It is of serious concern to the community that many local councils across the country do not seem to be aware that they are the guardians of a precious reservoir of DNA. We hope that the community can make its voice heard on this issue, and that Heritage Victoria together with the Heritage Council Landscape Advisory Committee, will consider doing all in their power to protect the roadside fruit trees of our south-east state.
We hope also that local councils in South Australia, Tasmania and New South Wales will recognise the tremendous value of their wildlings.
Some local councils in southern Australia have a policy of cutting down all non-native fruit trees on roadsides and poisoning the stumps. A number of apple trees and plum trees have already been destroyed.
There appear to be no plans to revegetate the areas left bare by removing the trees, which leaves them open to infestation by noxious weeds such as blackberries. There is also no provision for native birds such as king parrots which rely on the non-native fruit as an important food source, due to loss of original habitat.
It is of serious concern to the community that many local councils across the country do not seem to be aware that they are the guardians of a precious reservoir of DNA. We hope that the community can make its voice heard on this issue, and that Heritage Victoria together with the Heritage Council Landscape Advisory Committee, will consider doing all in their power to protect the roadside fruit trees of our south-east state.
We hope also that local councils in South Australia, Tasmania and New South Wales will recognise the tremendous value of their wildlings.
From: GOURMET BACKYARD FORUM
Moderator: Slim
REGISTRY OF ROADSIDE FRUIT AND VEG.
Location: Canberra
Registry of roadside fruit and veg.
Australia's comparative lack of soil fertility and rain mean we've got a much less productive hedgerow resource than Britain, however, driving around locally I've been noticing and recording locations of roadside food. Despite the less successful nature of our 'hedgerows' there's still plenty of food available for the general public. This thread is a registry of the locations of roadside foods- fruit, berries, mushrooms, whatever.
Format:
Post the type of food, general location, and street/road name followed the GPS co-ordinates (UTM if possible, these can be found on Google Earth if you know the location well enough, or use a GPS if you have one.).
I'll kick it off with some of the stuff I've noted. The GPS co-ordinates are approximates from Google Earth, and I'll ground-truth them if and when I get a chance.
BUNGENDORE
Apple, Bungendore, Kings Highway: 55H 720099.76 E 6091960.37 S Apple, Bungendore, Kings Highway: 55 H 719305.90 E 6090928.54 S
Japonica/Pear/Quince (not sure?), Bungendore, Bungendore Road: 55H 719440.95 E 6098158.73 S
WAMBOIN
Apple, Wamboin, Bungendore Road: 55H 715427.30 E 6101282.00 S
BYWONG
Apple, Bywong, Bungendore Gundaroo road (also Shingle Hill Way): 55H
712746.00E 6108874.87S
SUTTON
Apple, Sutton, Sutton Road: 55H 705068.11 E 6106915.36 S Apple, Sutton, Sutton Road: 55H 704592.87 E 6111415.78 S Apple, Sutton, Sutton Road: 55H 704614.09 E 6111640.29 S CANBERRA
Apple, Pialligo (Canberra), Kallaroo Road: 55H 698724.35 E 6090256.51 S
Irish Strawberry, Lyneham (Canberra), Wattle Street: 55H 693145.00 E 6097101.52 S NOTE This hedge is on a driveway, and if you are going to pick you it would be wise to ask the residents permission first.
Olives and Mulberry, Yarralumla (Canberra), Bike path off Dunrossil Drive: 55H 690238.80 E 6091873.12 S
QUEANBEYAN
Quince, Queanbeyan, Yass Road: 55H 703711.83 E 6087352.99 S
Sun May 16, 2010 7:36 pm
Cai
Site Administrator
Location: Gundaroo
NSW/ACT
Re: Registry of roadside fruit and veg.
Dude, that is an awesome idea! i would not all the ones between Gundaroo & Canberra except that the council just cut them all down!
Sun May 16, 2010 7:40 pm
Slim
Forum Moderator
Location: Canberra
Re: Registry of roadside fruit and veg.
Dude, really? The ones labelled 'sutton' above are the ones between Sutton and Gundaroo- are those the ones that got cut down? That's crap! There were some big ones there...
Sun May 16, 2010 8:21 pm
Cai
Site Administrator
Location: Gundaroo
NSW/ACT
Re: Registry of roadside fruit and veg.
I'll let you know if it was those ones, but the biggest apple tree did get cut down, no reason to do so but apparently its a good idea to waste our tax payer money cutting down fruit tree's!
Sun May 16, 2010 8:27 pm
Em
Site Administrator
5:57 pm
Posts: 1685
Re: Registry of roadside fruit and veg.
Its crap - there was no reason to cut them down. I agree with Cai - fabulous idea! I'm very impressed.
Sun May 16, 2010 8:32 pm
chookster
Sprout
9:03 pm
Posts: 9
Re: Registry of roadside fruit and veg.
I was going to plant some fruit trees out the front of my place for people to pick as they walked past... just as a good will gesture but I expect local idiots will probably wreck it for everyone.
Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:54 am
Em
Site Administrator
5:57 pm
Posts: 1685
Re: Registry of roadside fruit and veg.
Chances are high. Its sad, but unfortunately true - people can be idiots.
Tue Jun 08, 2010 11:30 am
Chicken Hawk2
Enthusiastic Gardner
Joined: Sat May 15, 2010
8:15 pm
Posts: 329
Location: Country South
Australia
Re: Registry of roadside fruit and veg.
There is a couple of streets in a suburb of adelaide where they had the choice of natives or fruit trees planted along the foot path. Its strange to drive down them and see all these lemons hanging from trees, peaches and other assorted fruit. But then the people wanted these so they are left in peace and the residents use them as they need, and the council waters and maintains them.
Tue Jun 08, 2010 11:47 am
Slim
Forum Moderator
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010
12:40 am
Posts: 850
Location: Canberra
Re: Registry of roadside fruit and veg.
I think that's a great idea! If the council planted fruiting trees instead of the usual boring European deciduous trees, and veges instead of flowers then we'd be reducing the reliance on shipping fruit and veg from the Murray region.
Tue Jun 08, 2010 2:09 pm
Slim
Forum Moderator
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010
12:40 am
Posts: 850
Location: Canberra
Re: Registry of roadside fruit and veg.
Ok, I've got a few more that I've remembered/found and one that's been cut down (bloody Sutton Council! The biggest and most plentiful tree in the region!)
The apple tree at: Sutton, Sutton Road: 55H 704614.09 E 6111640.29 S has been cut down
And additions:
Sutton
Apple, Sutton, Sutton road: 55H 705029.57 E 6107558.41 S
Canberra
Irish Strawberry, Lyneham (Canberra), corner of Archibald and Dryandra streets: 55H 692727.88 E
6097793.38 S
Also on someones front lawn, so best ask before raiding.
Moderator: Slim
REGISTRY OF ROADSIDE FRUIT AND VEG.
Location: Canberra
Registry of roadside fruit and veg.
Australia's comparative lack of soil fertility and rain mean we've got a much less productive hedgerow resource than Britain, however, driving around locally I've been noticing and recording locations of roadside food. Despite the less successful nature of our 'hedgerows' there's still plenty of food available for the general public. This thread is a registry of the locations of roadside foods- fruit, berries, mushrooms, whatever.
Format:
Post the type of food, general location, and street/road name followed the GPS co-ordinates (UTM if possible, these can be found on Google Earth if you know the location well enough, or use a GPS if you have one.).
I'll kick it off with some of the stuff I've noted. The GPS co-ordinates are approximates from Google Earth, and I'll ground-truth them if and when I get a chance.
BUNGENDORE
Apple, Bungendore, Kings Highway: 55H 720099.76 E 6091960.37 S Apple, Bungendore, Kings Highway: 55 H 719305.90 E 6090928.54 S
Japonica/Pear/Quince (not sure?), Bungendore, Bungendore Road: 55H 719440.95 E 6098158.73 S
WAMBOIN
Apple, Wamboin, Bungendore Road: 55H 715427.30 E 6101282.00 S
BYWONG
Apple, Bywong, Bungendore Gundaroo road (also Shingle Hill Way): 55H
712746.00E 6108874.87S
SUTTON
Apple, Sutton, Sutton Road: 55H 705068.11 E 6106915.36 S Apple, Sutton, Sutton Road: 55H 704592.87 E 6111415.78 S Apple, Sutton, Sutton Road: 55H 704614.09 E 6111640.29 S CANBERRA
Apple, Pialligo (Canberra), Kallaroo Road: 55H 698724.35 E 6090256.51 S
Irish Strawberry, Lyneham (Canberra), Wattle Street: 55H 693145.00 E 6097101.52 S NOTE This hedge is on a driveway, and if you are going to pick you it would be wise to ask the residents permission first.
Olives and Mulberry, Yarralumla (Canberra), Bike path off Dunrossil Drive: 55H 690238.80 E 6091873.12 S
QUEANBEYAN
Quince, Queanbeyan, Yass Road: 55H 703711.83 E 6087352.99 S
Sun May 16, 2010 7:36 pm
Cai
Site Administrator
Location: Gundaroo
NSW/ACT
Re: Registry of roadside fruit and veg.
Dude, that is an awesome idea! i would not all the ones between Gundaroo & Canberra except that the council just cut them all down!
Sun May 16, 2010 7:40 pm
Slim
Forum Moderator
Location: Canberra
Re: Registry of roadside fruit and veg.
Dude, really? The ones labelled 'sutton' above are the ones between Sutton and Gundaroo- are those the ones that got cut down? That's crap! There were some big ones there...
Sun May 16, 2010 8:21 pm
Cai
Site Administrator
Location: Gundaroo
NSW/ACT
Re: Registry of roadside fruit and veg.
I'll let you know if it was those ones, but the biggest apple tree did get cut down, no reason to do so but apparently its a good idea to waste our tax payer money cutting down fruit tree's!
Sun May 16, 2010 8:27 pm
Em
Site Administrator
5:57 pm
Posts: 1685
Re: Registry of roadside fruit and veg.
Its crap - there was no reason to cut them down. I agree with Cai - fabulous idea! I'm very impressed.
Sun May 16, 2010 8:32 pm
chookster
Sprout
9:03 pm
Posts: 9
Re: Registry of roadside fruit and veg.
I was going to plant some fruit trees out the front of my place for people to pick as they walked past... just as a good will gesture but I expect local idiots will probably wreck it for everyone.
Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:54 am
Em
Site Administrator
5:57 pm
Posts: 1685
Re: Registry of roadside fruit and veg.
Chances are high. Its sad, but unfortunately true - people can be idiots.
Tue Jun 08, 2010 11:30 am
Chicken Hawk2
Enthusiastic Gardner
Joined: Sat May 15, 2010
8:15 pm
Posts: 329
Location: Country South
Australia
Re: Registry of roadside fruit and veg.
There is a couple of streets in a suburb of adelaide where they had the choice of natives or fruit trees planted along the foot path. Its strange to drive down them and see all these lemons hanging from trees, peaches and other assorted fruit. But then the people wanted these so they are left in peace and the residents use them as they need, and the council waters and maintains them.
Tue Jun 08, 2010 11:47 am
Slim
Forum Moderator
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010
12:40 am
Posts: 850
Location: Canberra
Re: Registry of roadside fruit and veg.
I think that's a great idea! If the council planted fruiting trees instead of the usual boring European deciduous trees, and veges instead of flowers then we'd be reducing the reliance on shipping fruit and veg from the Murray region.
Tue Jun 08, 2010 2:09 pm
Slim
Forum Moderator
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010
12:40 am
Posts: 850
Location: Canberra
Re: Registry of roadside fruit and veg.
Ok, I've got a few more that I've remembered/found and one that's been cut down (bloody Sutton Council! The biggest and most plentiful tree in the region!)
The apple tree at: Sutton, Sutton Road: 55H 704614.09 E 6111640.29 S has been cut down
And additions:
Sutton
Apple, Sutton, Sutton road: 55H 705029.57 E 6107558.41 S
Canberra
Irish Strawberry, Lyneham (Canberra), corner of Archibald and Dryandra streets: 55H 692727.88 E
6097793.38 S
Also on someones front lawn, so best ask before raiding.