KOALA BUSHLAND

In 1996 four local authorities got together and decided to work together to manage their conservation aims for the forests and parks that are all joined together in our area. So Daisy Hill, Venman, Neville Lawrence, Kimberley, Burnett and Ford Conservation areas all come under the one name  "The Koala Bushland Coordinated Conservation Area. This 1100 ha of natural bushland borders Logan City and Redland City. Koalas don't live in one area but move up and down a corridor munching their way through tons of gum (eucalyptus) leaves. Unfortunately housing development in these corridors is causing the decline in the number of koalas. This conservation area is to provide koalas with a safe corridor and to provide the community with opportunities for nature based recreation and education.

We are so lucky to live 15 min walk to the Daisy Hill Conservation Park, which I still call the Daisy Hill Forest as it was when we first moved here. There are many trails in the forest some are for walking, some for bikes, some for horses and some are shared with everyone.

There are car parks and picnic areas with many barbecues.

I walk to the forest most mornings and then do the ring road and return home. It usually takes me an hour. Sometimes I can convince Mr B to join me. One day last week we went for a gentle walk along the Tree Discovery Trail.

I love how the morning sunlight penetrates the forest and drenches the picnic and play area.

We often come across these cute but shy wallabies (a small species of kangaroo)

However, we only see koalas occasionally. Numbers are dwindling and they sleep high up in the trees well camouflaged during the day. They feed and move from tree to tree at night. Within the conservation park there is The Daisy Hill Koala Centre, which is an educational facility and it also cares for orphaned baby koalas, often taken from the pouches of mothers who have been hit by cars or mauled by dogs.

There are so many interesting things to see in the forest, vines, grasses and

and a variety of different coloured trees. Now that summer has arrived many are shedding their bark.

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Yesterday I joined the U3A Bushwalking Club for my second time with them.

They walk for two hours at a good pace stopping only a few times for a drink of water. This is not a gentle walk.

Each week they choose a different trail. The walks are all pretty and sometimes I wish I could stop to soak up the beauty and explore nature, but I guess we are on a fitness exercise.

We were on a shared path and the cyclist were good as they got off their bikes to pass us. I was so chuffed that I could keep up with the seasoned walkers although the steep hills nearly toppled me but, no, I made it! Now I'm looking forward to next Thursday.

The Trees are Alive with Summer Blooms

Come for a walk with me to buy the newspaper and take in some flowering trees on the way. Sometimes we walk in the forest and then drive to buy the paper other times I walk to the shop, usually when BB has Atrial Fibrillation and finds it hard to walk. Today I grabbed my little Sony Cyber Shot and walked a circuit to the shop and back. It is about 3.5 km. I wind through the back streets and community parks to get there and then come back via the main road. It is before breakfast about 6.30am, the sky is full of heavy grey clouds covering us like a big blanket keeping in all yesterdays heat, it is about 27C, but it won't rain it just oozes humidity and it is like walking in a sauna. Aren't you lucky to be able to see the beautiful trees without the humidity?

We walk to the end of my street and enter a park. I love the contrast in colour of these two trees one almost black the other almost orange.

Then we go in between some houses, where an unusually coloured Bougainvillea hangs over a back fence. See how brown the grass is through lack of decent rain.

It is pink and orange

We cross the road and enter another little park.Then between the houses and onto another street.

A pink and orange Frangipani

Down a few streets and into another park. Then out to another street. The poincianas are starting to bloom, they are one of my favourites. Poinciana (Delonix regia)Hoping the residents of the house don't come out to see what I'm doing in their front yard. This street has a coloured tree in every garden. Coral Tree (Erythrina corallodedron) A red HibiscusThevetia neriifoliaSo now I have the paper in one hand and the camera in the other and we head for home. The main street was a bit boring.This Bauhinia galpinii is suffering from lack of water but manages a few flowers. Normally you can't see the branches for thick green leaves and masses of flowers.

At last off the road and back into the park for the uphill climb. Up the steepest bit to my street. Shirt wet and looking forward to a cold shower, drink of water and breakfast. Ah ha, home sweet home. Bill has breakfast ready on the deck.