Broughton Vale Red Cedar

This tree was remembered to be a self-sown seedling and replanted to its current location in the 1950s where it subsequently formed the corner of a chook run (reminiscence of former property owner: Mr Roger Slaughter, who purchased the property in 1956)

Tree is associated with Roger Slaughter and his first wife Ena, and second wife Margaret Slaughter who developed the ornamental garden on the property, of which the tree forms an integral part. The Slaughters were founding members of the Berry Garden Club, and their garden was exhibited in the first Berry Garden Festival in 1989, and in many subsequent shows.

The tree has aesthetic value as an individual mature spreading tree, and a focal point of a mature ornamental garden.

This tree has value as a reference for local growth rates. Given a mid 1950’s age, and a trunk diameter of 1.1m (at 1.4m above ground level, measured in 2014), the average radial outgrowth rate is 9mm per year.

This tree is representative of a post-European, wild-sown red cedar tree which has grown and matured within an open and tended garden context.

This red cedar tree has grown in a tended yard for around 60 years old, with an average trunk radial outgrowth rate of 9mm per year. This ornamental garden was established and developed by the Slaughters, founding members of the Berry Garden Club.

Owner is nominator.

Oral history information from Roger Slaughter recorded by Kelvin Officer.