Stratford beech trees shining

Broadway South has a new addition - 27 lights designed to illuminate the beech trees at night.

The beech trees, also known as the King George V Memorial Arcade of Beeches, were planted in the late 1930s or 1940s. Many of the trees have recently been illuminated, on both sides of the road.

Stratford District Mayor John Edwards said the trees enhance the southern entrance to Stratford. “The beech trees which flank Broadway south from Warwick Road to Celia Street form an attractive entrance to town. The Council has enhanced this feature by installing a lighting system to illuminate the trees at night.”

“A total of 27 trees have been lit with in-ground recessed uplights, which direct light into the tree canopy,” Mr Edwards said.

“The lighting is part of the Stratford Identity Project, and has been completed thanks to funding from the Taranaki Electricity Trust, to whom we are extremely grateful.”

The uplights operate in conjunction with the Council’s street lighting system, which turns on when daylight fades. The lights are NZ made and have a slight blue tint.

Mr Edwards says the lights have been carefully chosen and placed so they do not cause a distraction to traffic. “Instead, they provide a dramatic, visually appealing appearance to enhance Stratford’s southern entrance.”