Menu
Anembo Reserve is a large reserve directly adjacent to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park that covers approximately 22 hectares, containing important habitat for a range of threatened and non-threatened native species, including one flora and four threatened fauna species identified within the reserve. Internal land uses include a horseriding exercise arena, a picnic area including BBQ seating and playground facilities. The area also includes a proportion of land surrounded by the reserve, used by the Bush Fire Brigade.
The Duffys Forest Residents Association (DFRA) aimed to give a major upgrade to the horse arena that was unmaintained, contaminated and had blackened sand. This would include putting down a new crushed sand stone base, new sandstone boundary and a perimeter fence. However, this was a very expensive job and required lots of funding. There was a big funding drive and finally after many generous donations, the DFRA finally had enough to start the project.
Kinka Reserve is a large Crown Reserve under Northern Beaches Council’s care and control. The reserve is approximately 2.9 hectares of which approximately 2 hectares contains high quality remnant endangered Duffys Forest Ecological Community (Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995). The remaining 0.9 hectares was highly disturbed and in a poor state. Duffys Forest Residents Association (DFRA) aimed to make the 0.9 hectares into an arena for local horse riders to sustainably exercise their horses. This idea that was first thought of over a decade ago beforehand, but insufficent funding prevented it from progressing. Approval was finally granted and construction of an area started.
On the 11th March 2012, Kinka Reserve was offically opened by the Honourable Robert Stokes MP.
Rhoker Reserve is located between Thuddungra Rd and Booralie Rd. The name Rhoker was amalgamated from Leonard Macpherson Rhodes and Bob Kerswell, who were local residents and volunteer bush firefighters. Leonard Macpherson Rhodes was thought to be one of the first permanent residents of Duffys Forest. His mother was a relative of Patrick Duffy, and lived for a time on the original 40 acres granted to Patrick Duffy by the Crown in 1883.
In recent years, after significant lobbying from local residents, the then Warringah Council reinstated the Rhoker Reserve horse track, with a new 1.8 metre wide trail, steps and water crossings.
The Rhoker Reserve track provides local horse riders and walkers with off road access between Joalah Road and Booralie Road. Bush remediation also takes place at the Park.
Duffys Forest is surrounded by the beautiful Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Unfortunately, the nutrient rich run off from our properties leads to the growth of weeds and introduced plant species into the neighbouring National Park and Cowan Creek. Cowan Creek is a drowned valley with steep sides, and a major tributary of the Hawkesbury River. If left unchecked, these weed plumes will permanently change the ecosystems in the National Park and pollute the Cowan Creek tributaries, many of which originate in Duffys Forest.
Bushcare works to remove weeds and restore degraded ecosystems. This work occurs mostly on public land; in bushland, wetlands and around waterways. Volunteers (usually local residents) work on a number of sites in the area.
Duffys Forest has a number of active Bushcare sites. Please ask members of the Committee if you would like to help.
Joalah Road – This is a walking trail connecting Joalah Rd with Yanada Rd . This work is supervised by a representative of Warringah Council and occurs on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month. Please contact Barbara Junghans on Barbarajungans@me.com for further information. (Feb – Nov).
Waratah Park – Monthly bushcare mornings on Sundays.
Wyong Creek Trail – This walking trail connects Wyong Road South along the rear of the properties along the east side of Killawarra and Anembo Rds to the Anembo Horse arena. It follows the course of an unmade Crown road, which has been adversely affected by runoff. The DFRA commissioned an Ecologist to prepare a weed removal plan for this site and a Grant from the GS LLC for Bushcare on this site and in Wyong Gully was awarded to the DFRA. A number of Bushcare sessions were held, and the narrow trail is cleared intermittently. Please contact joanne@moygroup.net for more details.
Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010-2030 calls on individuals to participate in biodiversity conservation activities. The establishment and maintenance of bush corridors throughout our suburb is intrinsic to this strategy.
To preserve the birdlife, minimise pests in our gardens and maintain the ‘forest’ feeling we need many bush corridors (natural or created).
The establishment of linear strips and/or steppingstones of plantings assists wildlife movements and enhances the richness and diversity of the flora around us through the dispersal of pollen and seeds.
A good bush and wildlife corridor:
> Links existing patches of bushland
> Has 3 tiers of plants (groundcover, shrubs, tree canopy)
> Has a sympathetic planting of local plants (preferably)
> Is 10m wide if possible, using road verges and/or private land
> Importantly, has trees with hollows (incl. dead trees)
> Protects remnant bushland
> Lowers the incidence of disease in nearby gardens and paddocks
> Maintains better functioning ecosystems and hence resilience of plants and animals
> Minimises invasion of weeds
> Offers an escape route for animals during bushfire
> Provides refuge for animals that suffer from predation
[did you know that blue wrens do not fly across >10m of
open ground for fear of being harassed by big birds?].
You can enhance the ‘forest feel’ of our streets by creating a
wildlife corridor around your block, keeping existing bush
verges and revegetating with species indigenous to the area.
For further information and links to local stockists please visit community resource section on our website.
Be a good neighbour to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
