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Restoration of Wail Arboretum as a Community and Visitor Attraction
Utilising Small Towns Development Funding through the State Government and Envirofund resources from the federal government, the Friends of Wail Arboretum are currently upgrading the visitor amenities at the arboretum. This includes the restoration of public access by creation and repair of pathways in the Arboretum, improved toilet facilities for visitors, landscaping, shading and seating for visitor picnic areas and the entrance/driveway, plant and label specimens of suitable regional native flora, including the establishment of a garden of indigenous bush food plants and native grassland demonstration plot, provision of interpretative signage covering the value of indigenous flora and biodiversity, and plant identification and the erection of garden equipment shed. The project aims to create awareness and increased visitation through improved publicity including the production of this website and brochures.
Flora and fauna at the Arboretum
The Friends of Wail Arboretum Inc (The Friends) in partnership with the Wail Nursery, are delighted to have received funding from the State Government’s Small Towns Development Fund. This funding will enable the group to continue their significant work including improvements to toilet facilities, erection of a garden shed and improved pathways and plantings throughout the Arboretum. Additional funding from Horsham Rural City Council and the federal government’s Envirofund will also allow improvements to interpretive signage and landscaping in picnic and visitor areas to take place.
The Friends were formed in 2001 to restore and improve the Arboretum which is a regional and historic icon. Wail Nursery was established in 1946 to develop knowledge of plants suitable for dry areas, with the Wail Arboretum initiated soon after for people to view mature plant specimens. The Wail Nursery is now managed by The Wool Factory, who have run commercial nursery operations at Wail since 2002.
President of The Friends, Jan-Bert Brouwer said that “Since 2001 additional areas have been developed at the Arboretum to highlight important factors in the use and conservation of Australian plants. These include the Ted Brown Dryland Garden which features low water use plants for urban and rural settings; the Rare and Endangered Species enclosure; and the Native Grassland Demonstration plot.
A number of nesting boxes for birds and other tree-dwelling creatures have also been erected. “The Arboretum is home to many native fauna species, with at least 120 different birds recorded at Wail over the years,” he said.
Mr Brouwer said “There is free public access to the Arboretum at any time, with the walking tracks, mature trees and shrubs making it a popular place for family and group outings. The Friends of Wail Arboretum conduct guided tours for community groups, hold monthly working bees and welcome any new members.”
Brochures with contact details are available in boxes at the gates of the Ted Brown Dryland Garden or contact Jan-Bert Brouwer on ph 5384 6293.
