The Norfolk Island pine, fibonacci & heritage shingle-making

The Norfolk Island pine, fibonacci & heritage shingle-making -  In this episode, let’s explore our iconic Norfolk Island Pine, its ecological and historical significance, and the traditional craft of making roof shingles as a part of our island's cultural heritage. I would like to share this overview from a chapter entitled; ‘Norfolk Island’s trees’ by Kevin Mills. Kevin is a botanist and ecologist. The local native trees number only 32 species, while several hundred different tree species have been brought from elsewhere since Europeans arrived in 1788. One tree that cannot go unnoticed is the ubiquitous Norfolk Island Pine Araucaria heterophylla. The Norfolk Pine impressed Captain James Cook, the European discoverer of Norfolk Island, who wrote in October 1774 “…the chief produce of the isle is Spruce Pines which grow here in vast abundance and to a vast size, from two to three feet diameter and upwards…”. Cook’s suggestion that “here then is a nother Isle where masts for the tallest Ships may be had” was never realised due to the way in which the branches weaken the trunk by their growth habit.Philip Gidley King, sent from Sydney to occupy Norfolk Island soon after Port Jackson was established in 1788 by the British, was also impressed by the size of the pines, writing “the pines which are very numerous are of an incredible size, one of them which had been blown down or fell by age, measured 140 feet [c.43 metres] & several others which we measured were 27 feet [c.8 metres] in circumference…”. > Have a listen now to a snippet from the 2003 program ‘Radio Shorts’ as hosted by George Smith & Gillian Connolly with this interview with Jackie Ralph Quintal.One of Norfolk Island's most distinctive cultural practices is the traditional craft of making wooden roof shingles from Norfolk Island Pine. This specialised form of woodworking represents a direct continuation of techniques that have been passed down through generations of island families. The resulting shingle roofs create the characteristic appearance of the historic buildings in KAVHA as produced for restoration projects.> Have a listen now to Norfolk Islander, Kane Anderson, as he shares his working experience with shingle-making as part of the KAVHA restoration team.It was in 2009, when Brand Architect Mahesh Enjeti was engaged by Norfolk Tourism for a rebranding and positioning project, that he shared upon his arrival, that during his plane trip here, he was musing upon the numbers 3, 5, 8 which had tweaked his curiosity. That is, the size of the island is 3 x 5 miles or 5 x 8 kilometres. He recognised he said, those numbers are of the fibonacci sequence, and therefore this island must really be somewhere special as it’s already naturally designed in perfect balance!>AUDIO>>  ‘My Beautiful Island Home’ by Norfolk Islander and singer/ songwriter, Eileen Snell.For visitors to Norfolk Island, experiencing the majesty of our Norfolk Island pine trees offers a connection to both natural and cultural history. The Fibonacci sequence—a simple mathematical pattern with profound implications—reminds us that often the most beautiful aspects of nature are also the most functional, reflecting millions of years of evolutionary refinement toward optimal design.We look forward to welcoming you here!Thanks so much for joining me this week!Sponsored by Baunti Tours www.bauntitours.com > When booking with Baunti Tours, mention 'Podcast' to receive a 10% discount on tours. email: [email protected] phone: (International +6723) 23693To call from Australia: (02) 91368062