Trunk call: Derek McIntosh with Geelong Botanic Gardens director Annette Zealley and the black walnut set to appear on his register of “big trees”. Picture: Gail Thomas
JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A SELF-CONFESSED tree-changer on a national hunt for tall timber has discovered two outstanding specimens in Geelong.
National Register of Big Trees founder Derek McIntosh travels the country looking for additions to his website.
Mr McIntosh went out on a limb to declare two trees at Geelong’s botanic gardens as the largest of their kind in Australia.
The “magnificent” ginkgo and black walnut trees caught his eye before he measured them for circumference, height and crown spread.
Mr McIntosh also branched out to Geelong racecourse where he found a noteworthy weeping myall.
“The most wonderful find in Geelong was the champion weeping myall standing in the car park of the racecourse,” he said.
Mr McIntosh was urging residents to nominate trees, spread the word about the register and send him photos.
“I don’t have a horticultural background, so I have a group of expert supporters that advise on the botanical aspects of the nominated species.
“Australia’s largest trees of each species are recorded in the register, with points awarded on the measurements I take.”
Mr McIntosh said the region’s trees owed a debt to the foresight of early tree lovers who planted them in botanic gardens and private arboretums.
“All these trees have a story to tell and it’s amazing to think about the history of some of our special trees.”
Mr McIntosh said his register was at nationalregisterofbigtrees.com.au.
