Dalrymple-Hay Nature Reserve

Blackbutt at Dalrymple-Hay Nature Reserve, Australia

Dalrymple-Hay Nature Reserve is located in suburban St Ives, 15 kilometres from the centre of Sydney, Australia. A eucalyptus forest of ten hectares; the most significant remnant of the Blue Gum High Forest which dominated much of the shale based forests north of Sydney. Only 1% of the original forest remains.^[1] Average annual rainfall is a relatively high 1400 mm.

Bush regeneration programs have been implemented for many years. Invasive weeds such as privet, large leave privet, trad, lantana and camphor laurel continue to be troublesome.

Richard Dalrymple-Hay, proposed that this forest area should be preserved, in the 1920s. The area was originally part of the hunting grounds of the Kuringgai people. Dalrymple-Hay Nature Reserve is listed on the Register of the National Estate.^[2]

Flora

180 native plants have been found in this reserve. Blackbutt is the dominant canopy species, other trees occurring include Sydney Blue Gum, Grey Ironbark, Turpentine and Rusty Gum. Many of the Blackbutt are in excess of 40 metres tall. Interesting smaller plants include False Bracken, Maytenus, Downy Chance and Muttonwood.

Fauna

Ring-tail possums, Sugar Gliders, Brushtail possums and Grey-headed Flying Foxes are common. Birds such as Rainbow Lorikeets, Australian King Parrots, Crimson Rosellas, Currawongs, Variegated Wrens, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes, Superb Fairy Wrens and Silvereyes are some of the many birds found here.

References

1. ^ http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/parks/PoMDalrymple-HayNR.pdf
2. ^ The Heritage of Australia, Macmillan Company, 1981, p.2/33

Coordinates: 33°44.1966′S 151°9.2536′E / 33.73661°S 151.1542267°E / -33.73661; 151.1542267