Chinanews.com, Guangzhou, May 1 (Cheng Jingwei, Chen Yuehui, Lin Yin) According to the news of the Guangdong Provincial Forestry Bureau on May 1, the volunteers of the Guangdong Provincial Planners, Architects and Engineers Volunteer Association (hereinafter referred to as the "three divisions" volunteers) recently carried out plant science painting and painting training activities in the South China Education and History Research Base in Lechang Forest Farm, Guangdong Province, and found an ancient cone chestnut tree about 116 years old. In 1928, the famous botanist Jiang Ying collected a specimen of cone millet plant in Lechang Monkey Ridge, which may have originated from this ancient tree.
Volunteers from the "Third Division" of Guangdong Province are introducing the situation of the ancient chestnut tree. Photo by Wu Yongbin
It is understood that this ancient tree is located in the fine pear pit work area of Lechang Forest Farm in Guangdong Province, which is a cone chestnut of the family Shell Bucket family, with good growth, the height of the tree is 12.84 meters, the diameter at breast height is 80.38 cm, the crown width of the east and west is 13.50 meters, the crown width of the north and south is 16.12 meters, and the average crown width is 14.81 meters.
Located in Pingshi Town, Lechang, Shaoguan, the South China Education and History Research Base was the former site of many colleges and universities during the Anti-Japanese War.
The ancient cone chestnut tree is growing well. Photo by Wu Yongbin
In recent years, the volunteers of the "Three Divisions" have been deeply involved in the construction of the South China Education and History Research Base. With the technical support of the volunteers of the "Three Divisions", Guangdong has completed the ecological restoration of 22 key route networks of the ancient post roads in Nanyue with a total length of more than 1,340 kilometers in 31 counties (cities and districts) in 18 prefecture-level cities in the province, and repaired 272 important historical relics such as ancient post pavilions, post stations and ancient bridges.
Plant Science Painting. Photo by Wu Yongbin
In the protection of ancient and famous trees, the volunteers of the "Third Division" have also done fruitful work. At present, the number of ancient and famous trees registered in Guangdong Province has reached 85,561 and 907 ancient tree groups. Guangdong has also combined the protection of ancient and famous trees with resources such as nature education, research and red tourism, forming a systematic and attractive cultural trail, and creating an open and never-ending "natural history museum".
In 2024, Guangdong will further promote the ecological construction of Lumei Guangdong, continue to carry out the protection and promotion of ancient and famous trees, and build 24 new ancient tree parks to promote the harmonious coexistence of ancient and famous trees with urban and rural areas, history and humanities, and retain the nostalgic memory of Lumei Guangdong.