Dry eucalypt woodland covers the slopes of the Field of Mars Reserve. The vegetation is typical of the dry, infertile sandstone soils found in Sydney's north and is known as dry sclerophyll woodland. Many of the plants in this area have hard, waxy leaves that tend to be small and narrow, features which help to reduce moisture loss.
Despite being only 56 hectares in size, the reserve contains around 300 species of plants. These plants support an even greater array of animals from the tiniest spiders to large possums and birds.
Ring
tail
possum
Along
Buffalo
and
Strangers
Creeks
there
are
long
pockets
of
moist
gully
vegetation,
known
as
wet
sclerophyll
forest.
Different
plant
species
flourish
in
the
moist
conditions
found
near
the
creeks
to
those
found
in
the
drier
conditions
upslope.
Wet
sclerophyll
forest
is
characterised
by
moist
rich
soils,
shadiness
and
plants
with
dark
green,
soft
leaves.
The
cool,
moist
conditions
found
within
these
gullies
creates
the
perfect
habitat
for
some
of
the
reserve's
animals,
like
finches,
wrens,
whip
birds
and
ringtail
possums.
There
are
many
examples
of
human
impact
found
within
the
reserve.
Positive
impacts
include
the
installation
of
nest
boxes,
weed
removal,
bush
regeneration
and
the
recent
restoration
of
a
section
of
the
Buffalo
Creek
channel
to
improve
the
wetland
environment.
Negative
impacts
include
exposure
of
the
landfill
in
some
areas,
weed
invasion,
and
pollution
in
the
creek.
Warada
Track
-
Field
of
Mars
Reserve
The Field of Mars Reserve - A Brief
History
In
1804
Governor
King
set
aside
the
Field
of
Mars
Common
for
the
use
of
all
members
of
the
local
community.
It
was
about
2.2
kilometres
wide
and
extended
along
Lane
Cove
River
from
Boronia
Park
to
Pennant
Hills
and
to
Eastwood.
Between
1885
and
1900
most
of
the
common
was
sold
to
provide
more
land
for
settlement
except
for
45
hectares
of
land
between
Strangers
Creek
and
Buffalo
Creek.
This
was
set
aside
by
the
newly
formed
Ryde
Municipal
Council
as
an
area
for
public
recreation.
The
area
remained
undeveloped
and
stayed
as
a
patch
of
bush
until
the
1950s
when
post
World
War
II
housing
development
spread
through
the
surrounding
suburbs
and
garbage
disposal
became
a
problem.
Some
of
the
low-lying
saltmarsh
environments
beside
Buffalo
Creek
were
used
as
a
garbage
tip
until
1959.
These
areas
can
be
recognised
today
as
the
grassed
park
around
the
current
entrance
to
the
Field
of
Mars
Reserve
and
the
general
area
of
the
visitor
centre
and
environmental
education
centre.
In
1965
the
threat
of
re-opening
and
expansion
of
the
tip
by
Ryde
Council
brought
opposition
by
local
residents
and
the
formation
of
the
Ryde
Hunters
Hill
Fauna
and
Flora
Preservation
Society.
After
active
lobbying
by
this
group
and
others,
the
parcel
of
land
was
preserved
and
became
the
Field
of
Mars
Wildlife
Refuge
of
today.
Currently
the
Ryde
Hunters
Hill
Fauna
and
Flora
Preservation
Society
is
still
a
major
player
in
the
management
of
the
reserve.
Ryde
Council
is
working
on
a
new
management
plan
to
be
released
in
2006.
Looking
into
Buffalo
Creek
Reserve
from
Pittwater
Rd,
c1888
Photograph:
Mitchell
Library,
State
Library
of
NSW
Kitty's
Creek
and
Pittwater
Rd,
c1888
Photograph:
Mitchell
Library,
State
Library
of
NSW