Yerrangadu Arboretum
To create both awareness of plant species as well as a repository for visitors, SAF set up an Arboretum in Yerrangadu village, near Chunampet, nearly 100 km from Chennai, along with Shri C. Ramakrishna, a leading advocate and nature enthusiast. At the time the project was conceived, in 2008, the land owned by Shri. C. Ramakrishna, was fallow and mostly bare with only a few regular avian visitors – bee-eaters and rollers. K.P. Geethakrishnan played a key role in getting the project off the ground.
The project was begun in 2009 with 150 species of plants. The layout, design and species selection was done in consulation with various experts. At the time of planting, arrangements were made for drip irrigation for each plant. Over the years, with regular monitoring, replacement and gradual addition of new species, 1160 sapling of about 350 species were planted. Currently, in 2014, there are about 860 plants of 280 species.
Besides trees, this includes 39 species of bamboo and 17 species of palms. A book on the Arboretum was compiled and published by Salim Ali Foundation.
CURRENT SITUATION
The arboretum is almost complete, all plants have been labelled with English, Tamil and scientific names, and there is a small structure for visitors. Many local schools and colleges visit the Arboretum, and are taken on a guided tour around the Arboretum.
To visit the Arboretum, Contact
Shri C. Ramakrishna
New no 17 (old no 7)
Taylor’s Road, Kilpauk, Chennai 600010
Tamil Nadu, India
Phone: +91 44 26443015
Field Office
Mr. Duraimurugan +91 9444048372
Mr. Venugopal +91 9655044417
SAF PUBLICATIONS
1. Yerrangadu Arboretum. 2012. Published by Salim Ali Foundation, Thrissur.
Erythrina christa-galli, from Sikkim, grows and flowers in the Arboretum. Photo: Lalitha Vijayan
View of the arboretum. Photo: Lalitha Vijayan