Tree at Ballarat Botanical Gardens a finalist in Victorian Tree of the Year Award

One of the most significant trees in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens has been shortlisted for the National Trust of Australia Victorian Tree of the Year Award.

The Ponderosa Pine is one of nine trees shortlisted and one of only three from regional Victoria.

One of the tallest trees in the Botanical Gardens, it is an imposing specimen with a distinctive, patterned sweet smelling bark, which on a warm day, exudes a butterscotch or vanilla scent.

City of Ballarat Curator Parks and Nursery, Peter Marquand is encouraging residents and visitors to the gardens to jump online and vote for Ballarat’s Ponderosa, a tree he says people love to view and touch.

National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Chief Executive, Simon Ambrose advised that the Victorian Tree of the Year aimed to raise awareness of the conservation of the state’s natural heritage and promote the benefits that trees provide to our culture and way of life.

The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) is the state’s leading advocate for the protection of trees. Since 1982, the Trust has classified over 1,400 trees across Victoria on the National Trust Significant Tree Register.

Voting is open until Sunday 2nd May 2021.

Click here for more information.

Image courtesy of the City of Ballarat.