Image credit: City of Holdfast Bay
The City of Holdfast Bay has actively engaged in efforts to revitalise a centenary rock fig tree on Wheatland Street, Seacliff, which has been suffering from declining health. The tree, awarded the council’s Tree of the Month for January, is a significant part of the local landscape and is estimated to be around 100 years old. It is approximately 10 metres tall and has a canopy of 20 metres.
In response to the tree’s deteriorating condition, the Council’s Field Services team implemented a series of efforts aimed at improving its health. These measures include improving soil quality with the addition of biochar and beneficial microbes, and increasing both watering and fertilisation. To alleviate soil compaction that can adversely affect the tree’s root system, the council has restricted vehicle movements around the tree and expanded the root zone.
Seacliff ward councillor Clare Lindop participated in celebrating the tree by adorning it with a Tree of the Month medallion, signalling its importance to the community and the council’s commitment to its health.


Tom Morrison of the 20 Metre Trees Facebook page said, “Local councils are moving closer to meeting the expectations of community. Trees like these aren’t really possible to replace. It sets a standard and shows a real bit of leadership.”
20 Metre Trees is a community page focused on educating the South Australian public on the importance of urban trees and drawing people’s attention to tree-related issues in SA regions. “A lot of people recognise trees are important but don’t necessarily understand why,” Morrison said.
Morrison said that this project was extremely important to the community, especially because of the age of the tree. There are three really clear benefits for preserving older trees rather than planting new ones. Experts suggest that if you cut down a typical 140 year old gum tree, to get same environmental benefits you would need to plant 891 new 1 metre saplings. Here are the main benefits of older trees:
- Hollows take 120 to 150 years to form naturally in trees – over 350 species of native Australian animals rely on hollows for breeding and housing. Human-made nesting doesn’t provide the same necessary insulation. Morrison said it would be equivalent to us living in a tin shed!
- Newer trees won’t provide the same canopy cooling benefits as older trees. This is particularly important in urban areas.
- Newly planted trees cannot perform the same carbon dioxide-cleaning role as older trees.
“It’s really interesting,” Morrison said. “If you look 5 to 10 years ago there weren’t many projects at all that were restoring trees to their original health, and it’s really important. A decade ago, most local councils would have taken easy route and put a chainsaw to its trunk.”
You can nominate your favourite City of Holdfast Bay tree to be featured as a Tree of the Month. Head to www.holdfast.sa.gov.au/tree-of-the-month for more info.
Check out 20 Metre Trees here: https://www.facebook.com/20metretrees.
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