The Friends of the ACT Trees (FACTT) (formerly Friends of ACT Arboreta - FACTA) is a formally constituted group of individuals with an interest in the trees in Canberra's landscape and environs. It aims to foster sound management, and appreciation, of arboreta in the Canberra region.

The FACTT website is proudly sponsored by

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Upcoming Events

Westbourne Woods Walk

APRIL 2024 WESTBOURNE WOODS WALK

The next regular Westbourne Woods walk will be on Sunday 14 April, departing the gates of the Royal Canberra Golf Club at 9 30am.

The guide will be Max Bourke.

The theme for the walk will be  “History and the Arboretum of Charles Weston”.

Max Bourke AM was awarded his Medal of the Order of Australia for his contribution to cultural conservation. He believes arboreta and botanic gardens are fine examples of the culture of humans. He trained in agricultural science and has a graduate diploma in conservation from the College of Europe. He has worked at senior levels in both the public and private sectors, and volunteers at both the National Arboretum and the Australian National Botanic Gardens.

This walk will show how arboreta played a role in the history of both urban and commercial forestry (street trees, gardens and plantations) around the world. From the mid-19th century, foresters have used arboreta to trial species in different climates and locations. Charles Weston continued this when he planted Westbourne Woods as a test site for species to be used in the emerging landscapes of the new national capital. We will look at some of the results 100 years on. 

The walk takes about 2 hours and is a leisurely stroll through the Woods with a knowledgeable guide. 

MEET AT THE GATES TO ROYAL CANBERRA GOLF COURSE IN BENTHAM STREET YARRALUMLA JUST BEFORE 9.30 AM

PLEASE WEAR SENSIBLE SHOES/CLOTHES AND BRING A HAT. OPEN-TOE SANDALS AND THONGS ARE NOT APPROPRIATE. WALKERS ARE WELCOME TO USE THE CLUB'S FACILITIES AFTERWARDS FOR REFRESHMENTS BUT DRESS RULES APPLY.

NO DOGS, AND PLEASE REMEMBER TO RESPECT GOLFERS’ NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO PLAY SHOTS WITHOUT DISTURBANCE.

The full list of the 2024 Westbourne Woods Walks are here

Field trips to view interesting arboreta in the ACT, such as the Bendora Arboretum on Mt Franklin Road, are also conducted periodically and members of the public are welcome to accompany us!

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Renewal of membership of Friends of ACT Trees - FACTT

As we prepare to farewell winter and welcome the spring it is time to invite you to renew your membership with the Friends of ACT Trees (FACTT). FACTT is a formally constituted group of individuals with an interest in the trees in Canberra’s landscape and environs. It aims to foster sound management, and appreciation, of arboreta in the Canberra region. The membership year for FACTT runs from the 1 September to the 31 August each year, with renewal of memberships taking place in the month of September.

To renew your membership with FACTT please visit www.totalpay.com.au/FACTT and complete the online membership form. To finalise your membership please complete your payment by direct transfer to:

Account name: Friends of ACT Trees Incorporated

BSB 062 912

Account Number 10263776

When depositing your membership fee by direct deposit please reference your name, and the word 'Subscription.' Please confirm payment by emailing FACTT@outlook.com.au

You may also pay by cheque to The Treasurer, FACTT, 49 Shakespeare Crescent, Fraser, 2615 (please include name, phone, email or other address and membership type).

Membership fees are:

Corporate member $100

Voting member $25

Voting member paying for 2 years $40

Family members (living at the same address) paying for 2 years $50

Concession (students and pensioners) $10

We are grateful for your continued support and hope the you will continue your membership with FACTT in the coming year. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me at FACTT@outlook.com.au

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Vale – Ian Brooker

Sadly we’ve received news of the death of Ian Brooker on Saturday 25 June 2016 after a short period in hospital. Ian was a world authority on the eucalypts, which were the focus of his career between joining CSIRO’s Forest Research Institute in 1970 and his retirement from the Australian National Herbarium in June 1999. His lifetime of research into this large group resulted in an encyclopaedic knowledge, which was made available via a large number of scientific and popular publications. Some of his better-known works include several volumes of a “Field Guide to the Eucalypts” (with David Kleinig) and the various editions of the electronic identification key EUCLID (with co-authors including John Connors, Andrew Slee, and Siobhan Duffy). Ian was awarded as a Member of the Order of Australia in 2006 for his “service to botany, particularly through research leading to the identification and classification in the genus Eucalyptus, and as an author”.

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