Mayor Unveils Wiltshire's Very Own Dinosaur Tree

You are invited to join us at a very special rare tree planting by Councillor Nick Blakemore, the Mayor of Trowbridge

When: on Wednesday December 12th, 2007.

What time: 12.15pm

Where: Palmer Gardens, Trowbridge

TOWN Mayor Councillor Nick Blakemore will help Trowbridge-based national charity Shaw Trust preserve ancient history when he plants a very special tree at their popular Palmer Gardens project.

Nicknamed the 'Dinosaur tree' or 'living fossil', the Wollemi Pine was presumed extinct for around two million years until an Australian parks officer stumbled on a copse 13 years ago.

Now a specimen is being planted for all the public to enjoy at Palmer Gardens , a social enterprise business for Shaw Trust, which helps disabled and disadvantaged people achieve work and independence.

Some of the 23 clients who work at the Trowbridge treasure will watch as the Mayor digs deep for the Pine, which was rediscovered near Sydney in 1994 and has been the focus of a unique propagation programme as part of a global conservation effort ever since, "It's a rare treat to have the Pine (Wollemia nobilis), which has been kindly donated by Kernock Park Plants, here for all to enjoy," said Palmer Gardens Manager Mark Bradbury.

"It's gratifying that a species has been saved, and especially gratifying that we have a specimen in an established garden which is open to the public. The Pine will have an appropriate neighbour too.

We have a number of fine specimens here, including a Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo biloba), which was also around at the time of the dinosaurs."

Bruce Harnett, Managing Director of Kernock Park Plants, said: "We are delighted to see another Wollemi Pine go to such a deserved home.

The Wollemi Pine is such a special tree and we are lucky to be at the heart of conserving its future."

The Wollemi Pine is one of the worlds oldest and rarest tree species and belongs to a 200 million year-old plant family, Araucariaceae.

It was known from fossil records and presumed extinct, until the dramatic discovery, which was hailed as one of the greatest botanical finds of our time.

The oldest known Wollemi Pine type fossil dates back 90 million years and it is believed that the Pines may have existed since the Jurassic period, 200 million years ago.

The Trowbridge specimen will form part of a planned nature trail that Mark aims to launch to local schools next year at Palmer Gardens , which includes a garden centre and a café.

"We're delighted to have the Pine, and that our Mayor will be here to mark its introduction to the garden," added Mark, who has chalked up a botanical first himself.

Mark, who will also be present at the tree planting, is a keen horticulturist responsible for breeding new varieties of Passion Flowers. One, Passiflora Eden, named after the Eden Project in Cornwall , was launched at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2003.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. For further details, please contact Marketing Communications Manager Tony Noble on 07971 794404 or PR Officer Becky Gammon on 07779 784901. Or you can email: crucialpr@shaw-trust.org.uk

2. Shaw Trust is a national charity, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, which helps people with disability or disadvantage to find work and achieve independence. We do this not only by delivering government programmes, but also through our own self-funded initiatives, and by campaigning to change attitudes at all levels.

3. Shaw Trust has grown into a world-renowned international organisation, which over the years has supported nearly 160,000 disabled and disadvantaged people and helped some 50,000 of them into work.

4. Across the UK more than 1,200 staff now oversee a diverse range of more than 200 projects.

5. Wollemi Pine are available from appointed retail stockists and from www.wollemipine.co.uk

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