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Currency Creek Arboretum facts for kids

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Currency Creek Arboretum
Type Eucalypt arboretum
Location Currency Creek, South Australia
Area 32 ha (79 acres)
Created 1992
Operated by Private
Open By appointment only
Website http://www.dn.com.au/index.html
Dean-Nicolle-Deanei
Dean Nicolle and Eucalyptus deanei
Eucalyptus-20070325-013
Eucalyptus conferruminata

The Currency Creek Arboretum (often called CCA) is a special place in South Australia. It is near the small town of Currency Creek, south of the city of Adelaide. This arboretum is a research center that focuses only on Eucalypt trees.

It covers about 32 hectares (79 acres) and grows only plants that are native to Australia. The Currency Creek Arboretum is privately owned and run by volunteers. You can visit it by making an appointment, and there is no entry fee.

How the Arboretum Started

Dr. Dean Nicolle began looking for land in 1990. He wanted to create a special garden for trees, called an arboretum. He needed soil that was well-drained and not too acidic or alkaline.

The Currency Creek Arboretum was officially started in 1992. The area has a Mediterranean climate, which means it has warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. It gets about 450 mm (18 inches) of rain each year.

The first eucalypt seeds were planted in 1993. There were 18 different types of eucalypts. Each time seeds were collected, their exact GPS location was recorded. This helps researchers know where the trees came from.

Amazing Tree Collection

The arboretum has a huge collection of eucalypts. It includes 1,000 different types of species and subspecies. In total, there are over 8,000 trees growing here.

The collection features many kinds of trees. These include Eucalyptus, Angophora, and Corymbia. Each type of tree is planted in groups of four. This helps with research and observation.

Important Research Work

The Currency Creek Arboretum is a busy place for research. Scientists here study many things about eucalypts. They work on how to protect these trees and how to grow them.

They also study how eucalypts live in their natural environment. Researchers look at how trees are related to each other and how to classify them. Other studies include how eucalypts can be used for cut flowers or for making honey. They also learn about using trees for firewood, shade, or as windbreaks.

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