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Tuart Forest |
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Tuart Forest |
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We went down to Tuart forest National Park in winter. After getting considerably lost locating the exact forest we realised that this forest is in and amongst farmland. We found a possum walk trail, which we took in the daytime and discovered some great fungi (but no possums). The Tuart trees were big and grand (up to 33metres high) but not as many as I expected (which is pretty sad if this is the biggest remaining area of Tuart trees in the world). And, it was a pity that the forest is intersected by farmland. We saw bandicoot diggings, a mob of grey kangaroo’s, wood ducks, mountain ducks, a dead possum on the road and a large male dead bandicoot on the road. (Road kills can show you what animals are living in the area even though you may not be lucky enough to see a live one), an owls nest, flat ants nest, and about a dozen different types of fungi. The area also has limestone, which attracted the first settlers to the area along with timber milling. The nearby 1.8km long Busselton jetty was constructed to service the timber industry (if you visit the jetty be prepared to pay money!). Other animals you might see if you were to take a night walk are ringtail possums, brush-tailed phascogale, bush rat, and nocturnal birds, and wetland birds feed in the nearby wetlands. |
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There are some other small walk trails (under 2km) and a visitors centre but we couldn’t find that and none of the locals knew where it was. I really enjoyed the fungi species, I regret my camera wasn’t working well on the day.
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The Busselton Jetty built to service the timber industry. |
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I have returned twice here
this winter in search offung But here's the catch. A mining company want to mine a large portion of this Tuart forest so if they get approval there would be no point visiting this forest for fungi, wildlife or flora for many years to come. This is the largest remaining Tuart forest in the world! Yes the world. If you care about this being mined then you need to make enquiries to Cable Sands the mining company and the deptarment of Conservation and Land Management.
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I am sure there is fungi here that has not been identified yet as there is all over Australia.
Don't
forget to check out our FASCINATING FUNGI section to see more
cool fungi from
here and other places in Western Australia.
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This forest also supports a large number of brush tail possums (seen here), kangaroo's, bandicoots, birds of prey (we saw a Tawny frogmouth and on a nearby road we saw a Little Eagle) and possibly the brush tailed phascogale, Baudins White tail black cockatoo, and the Western Ringtail possum all of which are threatened or endangered species. Close by is a few remaining Bussel's orchid and of course the Tuart trees and a wetlands area which supports many species of ducks, swans, frogs such as this cutie and other wildlife. Not all of the Tuart forest will be directly affected by the mining. |
| This forest does have a problem of being previously mined and milled since the late 1800's which has left it short of a lot of understorey or ground cover plants, instead it has the lilies, grass, pine trees, and bunnies, which does mean there is less wildlife and flora than some other places we have visited. |  |
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Oh and don't forget the mozzies! If they drive you mad then this is not the place for you in the warmer months. I do not know if the 'Ross River virus' is still active. A month ago we didn't encounter any mozzies but this past week in mid August we were eaten alive. We found Layman's picnic site to be below standard to other picnic sites, the toilet needed a clean out and there was no BBQ facilities like the CALM website and signposts had said, but the possum walk was well marked with reflectors and easy to follow in the dark. The king or large Tuart trees are truly magnificent some standing for around the 400 year mark. Their hollowed out branches look like apartment buildings supporting a large amount of wildlife. Any tree that has stood in the Western world for this long deserves our respect and protection if possible.
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i and we found quite a lot of it even into
August. 
