HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, yesterday afternoon consented to plant a tree during a visit to the National Arboretum Canberra, a press release stated.

Before arriving at the arboretum building, His Majesty stopped over at Daily Farmers Hill to see a panoramic view of the site.

The arrival of His Majesty at the National Arboretum Canberra building was greeted by Katy Gallagher MLA, Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory; Ms Jocelyn Plovits, President, Friends of the Arboretum and Member, Strategic Advisory Board, National Arboretum Canberra.

His Majesty then walked to the planting site and was briefed on the background of the National Arboretum Canberra. The monarch also consented to sign a visitor’s book.

His Majesty then planted a ‘Trachycarpus Fortunei’ also known as ‘Windmill Palm’, a species native to mountainous areas in Asia.

The species can tolerate very cold weather and can be grown in areas with temperatures well below freezing point.

The 250-hectare arboretum in Canberra was created after the area was burned out as a result of the Christmas 2001 and 2003 Canberra bushfires.

In 2004, the Government of the Australian Capital Territory held a nation-wide competition for an arboretum, which was to be part of the recovery from the 2003 bushfires.

The site has been planted with trees since 2005, and includes ceremonial trees planted by visiting heads of government and ambassadors. It was officially opened in February 2013.

Accompanying His Majesty at the ceremony were Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister of Education; Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II; Todd Mercer, the High Commissioner of Australia to Brunei Darussalam; Dayangku Rohayaty binti Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Md Yassin, the Acting High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to Australia; as well as other senior government officials. - Borneo Bulletin (3 May 2013)