Spring Flower Walk in Sheldon Forest (Sydney,NSW)

We acknowledge traditional custodians of the land.

Join Geologist Dr John Martyn to see the Spring flowers and to explore and discuss the interactions between geological history, landscape, and ecological communities of Sheldon Forest.

Located on Sydney’s North Shore and managed by Ku-ring-Gai Council, Sheldon Forest contains some of the last remnant pockets of Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest and Blue Gum High Forest, both of which are critically endangered ecological communities. Aboriginal people have a strong, continuing association with these landscapes that have evidence of Aboriginal occupation over at least the last 20,000 years.

The 1.7km walking track meanders through changing geology and vegetation. The track begins at the Scout Hall under a canopy dominated Eucalyptus saligna, indicative of the underlying Ashfield Shale of the Wiannamatta Group.

Continuing downhill, the vegetation transitions from Blue Gum High forest into Shale/Sandstone Transition Forest where the Mittagong Formation, an alternating mixture of thin sandstones and shales, gives rise to a dominance of Eucalptus pilaris in the canopy. As the geology shifts into a Hawkesbury Sandstone shelf Syncarpia glomulifera and Angophora costata join the vegetation composition.

The track descends into a Sandstone Valley, where the influence of geology, moisture and aspect has produced a mesophyllic shift in vegetation composition dominated by Ceratopetalum apetalum.

This walk will also have a focus on the spring wildflowers of Sheldon Forest. Within the ground and mid-layer stratum the inflorescences of Hibbertia dentata, Indigofera australis and Orchid species Caladenia catenata and Erythrochis cassythoides may be observed. Participants are encouraged to bring a local field guide for additional flora identification.

Take a look at:  Ku-ring-gai GeoRegion: a new concept in landscape conservation

More information :Conroy, R.J. Martyn J.E., Mitchell P.B., Robinson A.M. et al. (2022) The Natural and Cultural History of the Ku-ring-gai Geo-Region, New South Wales. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 144, 129-226.

Register to attend

What to bring:

Please wear good walking shoes, bring a bottle of water, snack, sun protection and insect repellent. No dogs permitted. If unwell, stay home and rest.

Getting there:

Public transport –

Train to Turramurra station, walk/bus south (1km) on Pacific Highway, turn right into Warragal Road for Walking Track entrance,

Caution: check track work on this weekend day: https://transportnsw.info/alerts#/metro-train.

By car,

limited parking at is available at the Scout Hall or along Warragal Road.

Meeting point:

Adjacent to the 1^st Turramurra Scout Group Hall, 28 Warragal Rd, Turramurra at the entrance to Sheldon Forest Walking Track from Warragal Road.