Backyard Tree in Third Avenue, St Peters

SPRA nominated this tree for the 20 Metre Trees 2024 Competition.

Update: Finalist

Great news. This tree made it to the list of ten finalists. Please vote.

Owner’s Personal Testimony

“We planted this eucalypt in 1989 in our back garden. It failed to read its own label about the 5-7 metre height and has grown ever since, and must top 25 metres by now. It drops leaves by the million, covers the garden with bark in December, and lifts the brick paved paths, but we would never forgive ourselves if we had it cut down (neither would the birds). We have had two koalas in it, and special birds perching on its branches over the years have included a boobook owl, striated pardalote, crested shrike tit, kestrel, Australian white ibis, kookaburra and at the moment an Eastern spinebill is flitting around. Our tree is visited occasionally by grey-headed flying foxes. Apart from which it provides shade and cools the garden by a degree or two.

“The tree was sold to us as a Eucalyptus scoparia but it is not. It very occasionally drops a piece with flowers and gum nuts and they don’t match Eucalyptus scoparia details.

“It is surrounded by buildings which makes it hard to take a good photograph. The garden is too big for us (as is the house), but what keeps us here is the beautiful tree. If we sold up, the developers would move in and bulldoze every scrap of vegetation, including the tree, and build a monstrosity covering 99% of the land.”

Comments

This tree is much loved by its owners. Which other tree in this competition can claim to such devotion that the property owners are refusing the sell the land because the tree would probably be cut down if they sold the property? This tree graces the owners’ back yard. Large backyard trees are becoming a rarety as urban infill, swimming pools, outdoor entertainment structures and large house extensions whittle away garden areas and space for large trees. The future looks grim for large trees in backyards.

We recommend this tree should receive some award or commendation due to its size, location, biodiverse habitat and the efforts its owners have made to protect it.