People from all over the world are sending emails to Melbourne's trees

Updated December 12, 2018 12:39:59

Melbourne gave 70,000 trees email addresses so people could report on their condition. But instead people are writing love letters, existential queries and sometimes just bad puns.

Hi Tree,

You are just outside my work and you make me happy :)

Keep growing and keep on treeing!

Dear Magnificent River Red Gum,

I admire you every day as I walk past you on my way to and from work. You seem to have been around for some time. Is there any chance that you were here for longer than the time of white settlement?

You look to me to be substantially older than any of the other trees around Princes Park. Is this true? Does this entitle you to any special treatment? How old might you be? Hopefully you will outlast me in the land of the living. I am very interested to know more of your history.

Regards and hope you enjoyed the rain this weekend after such a long dry month.


I am sorry that you're so sick. Can I climb you one last time? Strip down that bark for me baby, it'll make you feel better.

Dear Smooth-barked Apple Myrtle,

I am your biggest admirer. I have always wanted to meet you, but tragically, I'm stuck in New York.

I think you are the most handsome tree of them all, tall with an inviting open canopy. I love to just dream of you, the smell of your clusters of white flowers, the sight of your lush, dark green foliage, and feel of your patterned bark.

You inspire me to live life to the fullest, and pursue my dreams; you keep growing despite the terrible tragedies in this world. You are loved and deserve the world.

Love, some person in New York

Dear Moreton Bay Fig,

You are beautiful. Sometimes I sit or walk under you and feel happier.

I love the way the light looks through your leaves and how your branches come down so low and wide it is almost as if you are trying to hug me. It is nice to have you so close, I should try to visit more often.

You are my favourite tree because you are a native, standing proud in a cultivated English garden of colonising trees, imported to remind settlers of a home they may never return to. You remind me to be as strong and beautiful as you are.

Dear English Oak,

I have chosen to write to you given your proximity to the Shrine of Remembrance and that your status is 'unknown'.

I write about a friend of mine … someone who has reached an intersection in life. To the outside world he has control, but within it can feel like a labyrinth with too many possible pathways, all without much clarity or light.

How can I help him during this time of decision and indecision?

Thank you wise old tree.

Dear Syzygium Lilly-Pilly,

This is not a report on your wellbeing, in case someone reading this is looking for issues they need to fix. This is simply a letter to a tree, because I would like someone new to talk to, a stranger, and what better stranger to pick than a tree who lives across the world?

I do not live in Australia, I live in America, and have my whole life. I have not even left this country, although I would like to, someday. I would like to travel the world.

But right now, I am a teenager, going into their sophomore year in high school, and I am not a world traveller. It is late, and I should be asleep. I have been working today. I'm with my dad, working at an art fair in Colorado for the weekend. He's an artist, and makes pottery, full time. I like helping out at fairs with him; artists are actually super great people to be around. I'd like to be an artist when I'm older. I draw, now, just for me. And I take art classes at school. But one day, I would like to be an artist, as a job.

People always talk about the "starving artist", and I can guarantee, it won't be easy, being an artist, for a job. But that's my dream. And what are dreams if you're not just a little bit afraid of them?

Well, I should sleep. It's past midnight, which normally wouldn't be so bad for me, but I have to get up early tomorrow and work. I'll write again, soon, I think. I would quite like to have a tree as a friend.

And maybe, someday, I'll travel across the world and visit you.

Sincerely, a friend

Dear 1517937,

I am confessing something very dear to me. I have fallen in love with 1583182. I also feel guilty for cheating on 1023379 but yet I justified it on the fact that 1023379 is expected to die in under a year.

I honestly feel really bad and I don't know what to do, it would be really great if you could give me some advice. Should I wait for 1023379 to die or should I leave 1023379 for 1583182.

Regards, A Tree Lover <3

Hi Tree 1022794,

How's it going? I walk past you each day at uni, it's really great to see you out in the sun now that the scaffolding is down around Building 100. Hope it all goes well with the photosynthesis.

All the best.

Hi Tree,

How do you feel about those trees who are hugged by koalas all day?

Regards, Not-a-koala

Dear beautiful grassland gum,

I know things may get a little glume-y when you only have grasses for company, but today is your day to shine! Happy National Eucalypt Day!

Your friend.

Hey tree 1656502,

How is life tree ting you? Hate to love and leaf you but I gotta go. How was your day?

Hope to hear from you, maybe we'll hug one day.

Hello tree.

I don't actually know you, but recently I've been wondering what trees say.

A friend of mine gave me your contact information, so I thought I would go straight to the source.

So here is my question: what would you tell people if you could speak?

Dear Nettle,

I just moved in three months ago and I'm very glad that I can talk to you through this system. I live in the first floor and I can actually see you through my window!

I'm having trouble sleeping at night because of the noise of cars and ambulances at night, hope you're not suffering that much and be able to have a good sleep.

Thank you for blocking the noises from the street and wish the birds don't do harm to you. Pleasant to meet you and have a nice day!



how ya doing?

- me

p.s would you consider your fingers to be your branches or your roots?

Hi tree

You live outside my window....I love you

Tree lover

Dear Mr/Mrs Eucalyptus

Thank you for cleaning and producing our air. I was wondering, what animal spreads your seeds? Is it an animal?

I would love if you replied.

Dear Rose Gum,

Over the past year I have cycled by you each day and want you to know how much joy you give me.

No matter the weather or what is happening around you, you are strong, elegant and beautiful. I wanted you to know.


These emails were sent as part of Melbourne City Council's Urban Forest Visual, an interactive map that allows the public to find out more about any tree in the council area.

"The idea of incorporating the facility to email the trees was literally set up so that people could report issues about a particular tree and we could quickly identify a tree that needed attention," the council's environment portfolio chair, Cathy Oke, says.

But the response was completely unexpected.

Since the project started it's received more than 4,000 emails from around the world.

"That quickly turned into something quite unexpected when people were using this to send fan mail and love letters," Cr Oke says.

"I think one of the great things about it is that people often think technology removes us from nature but actually the opposite can be true. It shows that technology can actually help you engage with nature. We want people to know we're looking after our trees, we want the community to help us look after them, and if it also brings them some joy in a busy world, that's great too."


Reporter, photographer: Margaret Burin; Designer: Ben Spraggon; Developer: Colin Gourlay; Editor: Matt Liddy

Topics: human-interest, melbourne-3000

First posted December 12, 2018 06:20:37