It?s Arbor Day in Greytown but who gives a fig?

For a town that gets huffy at the slightest mention of a chainsaw being taken to a single tree twig, it seems strange that come Arbor Day, no one gives a fig.
Greytown, famous for establishing New Zealand's first Arbor Day back in 1890, will mark its 115th anniversary of the event this weekend, but despite all the limes, oaks, walnuts and totaras planted over the years most locals are not even too sure when it is.
To set the record straight it's this Sunday, July 3rd ? and shame on you for not knowing.
To be fair the dates of the annual celebration can be a little confusing; the rest of the country marks Arbor Day on June 5, while this year Greytown School combined its effort to coincide with Matariki on June 8.
But despite all the confusion Greytown heritage agitators Mike Gray and Alisoun Werry think it's no excuse for people not to take more interest in one of the town's most valuable assets ? its heritage trees.
Mike Gray organised Arbor Day centenary celebrations for the town in 1990 and at the time even mooted the idea of establishing an Arbor centre at the Soldier's Memorial Park, but now it's all he can do to keep the day from falling off the community calendar.
"This is a hugely significant element in the identity of Greytown, but I have a discomfort that there are people in the community now who don't know enough about it."
Mr Gray said he was also disappointed the community board had distanced itself from taking responsibility of promoting the day, but conceded that every member of the community needed to make an effort as well.
"Greytown isn't just the cafe experience and the dinky shops on Main Street or the Victorian heritage ? there are so many other things that make us, but people aren't making the effort to find out.
"A mechanism is needed to carry that knowledge on and local authorities have a role in it. Friends of the Park do a lot, but the bulk of the members are older retired people so I put it to the community board and the community to get other younger people involved."
For Alisoun Werry it is saddening to see the stand of native bush in the town known as O'Connor's Bush largely taken for granted.
"Greytown has lost its history ? it's all very well having these trees, but no one knows where they come from even though the park was originally bought by the town for future generations to enjoy."
l Arbor Day activities: St Luke's Anglican church is holding a special Arbor Day service at 9.30am, after which a tree will be planted.
At 11.30am Friends of the Park will be meeting at the Soldier's Memorial Park, Kuratawhiti Street, behind the tennis courts to plant natives. Follow the arrows.