Warm Trees 2022 You still have time to knit a scarf for Warm Trees - the cut-off date is Wednesday 15 June. The theme is ‘Celebrating the cultures of the first peoples of Australia’ so the preferred colours are those of the Aboriginal flag - black, yellow and red - and the Torres Strait Islander flag - blue, green black and white. But if you have some spare wool in other colours, we are happy to have scarves in other colours too. Scarves should be a metre long and 25 cm wide, but you don’t need to be exact. You can drop off your scarves at the Welcome desk in the Village Centre. And even if you are not able to knit a scarf, you are still welcome to come to the launch of Warm Trees 2022, on Wednesday 6 July at 2pm, in the Village Centre, and you can see the scarves warming the trees during the month of July.

Although STEP is not open to the public, currently, due to large-scale maintenance needs, you can still make a 'virtual trip' to STEP to admire the flowers and the fungi! See below ...

The Friends' AGM held on 10 May was an informative and relaxed evening. Below are links to some of the reports given on the evening. Thanks to everyone who came along to the event.

This is our newest membership promo! Looks great! You too can become a Friend and then you are eligible to buy a Parking Pass. Think how useful that would be - no more trips to the parking meter on hot/rainy days or having to leave kids in the car till you return with the ticket! For less than $2/week you can get a membership and a parking pass. That has to be Bargain of the Month! See below for links.

Yes! You can now buy your own Wollemi Pine tree - for your own garden, as a magnificent gift or as a Thank You! The first 30 Wollemi Pines from the Wollemi Propagation Project are now available for sale. These are very special trees. Each Wollemi can be traced back to seed taken from a specific Wollemi at the Arboretum. These Wollemi are only for sale on the Friends’ website.

With all the activities promoted and created by the Friends - see our Friends Forest, Friends' plantings atop Dairy Farmers Hill, our Zigzag Garden, and most recently, our new Forest Shelter - there is so much going on! To continue the good work and enjoyment for so many, we invite you to pass on the attached Membership Promotional Card to your friends and neighbours! We need more members! What so many people find invaluable is the Parking Pass (only available by becoming a Friend) because it avoids the trip from car to parking machine and back - especially valuable in the hot sun, wintry winds and rain. For less than $2 per week, it can be yours!

Ladies and Gentlemen - start your knitting needles and crochet hooks! We're off and running for this year's Warm Trees! Mark your calendars for Wednesday 6 July at 2pm when the event will be launched by the Chief Minister, in the company of a Ngunnawal elder and Rob de Castella, found of the Indigenous Marathon Foundation. Friends are thrilled that both organisations are involved in this year's installation. See below for details on workshops to create bogong moths. The deadline for scarves and small moths is 15 June. Thanks to everyone who can get involved!

Enjoy the highlights of the Arboretum from the comfort of our very own tourist bus generously sponsored by the Friends of the National Arboretum Canberra! Back by popular demand, now with two tours daily on weekends and public holidays – the Ngala Discovery Tour departs the Village Centre at 1pm and 2.30pm. Hear the stories of the forests and enjoy spectacular photo opportunities from one of Canberra’s best lookouts. Bookings essential via the link below, or ask our friendly staff in the Village Centre to assist you.

Friends of the National Arboretum Canberra Inc advise that their Annual General Meeting will be held at 5.30pm on Tuesday 10 May 2022 at the Margaret Whitlam Pavilion, National Arboretum, Canberra. AFTERWARDS - Trevor Lipscombe will be our Guest Speaker. Trevor will highlight the importance of the Green Hills area of the Arboretum and environs as part of Griffin's landscape plan for the city.

All Friends are invited to attend the Book Launch of this new book by Duncan Smith OAM, Nicole Godwin and Jandamarra Cadd, entitled We Are Australians. Join Duncan and Nicole for the launch of this picture book. With exquisite artwork from acclaimed artist, Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Warung man, Jandamarra Cadd, ‘We Are Australians’ explores what it truly means to be an Australian citizen. It is about reflecting on our rich First Nations history and walking forward together, stamping our feet to wake up the ancestors and listening deeply to stories. Join us for a book reading, an Indigenous performance by Duncan and other celebrations to mark the launch of this special book. The Facebook event is live - see below for further details. DATE: SATURDAY 9 APRIL 2022 TIME: 9.30AM VENUE: VILLAGE CENTRE, NATIONAL ARBORETUM CANBERRA