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About Field of Mars
The Field of Mars Reserve is located in East Ryde and it is bounded by Cressy Road, Buffalo Creek, Pittwater Road, Moncrieff Drive, Finch Avenue and Kellaway Street. The Reserve forms part of a wider open space system and habitat corridor network which includes, to the east the Field of Mars Cemetery and linkage parks such as Pidding, Barton and Burrows Parks and to the west, the Lane Cove National Park.
Vegetation Community
The soils within the Field of Mars are derived from Hawkesbury Sandstone, except along the lower creeks where they are alluvial, and on the ridges where there is a capping of Wianamatta shale. The influence of the shale extends for some distance down slopes in to the shallow valley of upper Stranger’s Creek where there is a transition from clay to sandy soils. The Field of Mars Reserve contains no fewer than six distinct indigenous plant communities being:
- Sydney Sandstone Ridgetop Woodland
- Shale Sandstone Transition Forest
- Sydney Sandstone Gully Forest
- Coastal Saltmarsh
- Sydney Turpentine - Ironbark Margin Forest
- Riparian scrub
Protected Flora and Fauna
This provides the opportunity for scientific and educational study in the Reserve as well as an understanding of the effect of the changes in topography and soil type have on native species, as one walks from the lower estuarine flats up to the ridge tops on the trail network. The Field of Mars Reserve contains a number of critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable vegetation communities, flora and fauna including:
- Vegetation community
- Sydney Turpentine – Ironbark Margin Forest
- Shale Sandstone Transition Forest
- Coastal Saltmarsh
- Flora
- Epacris purpurascens var purpurascens
- Pimelia curviflora var curviflora
- Fauna
- Ninox strenua (Powerful Owl)
- Myotis macropus (Large-footed Myotis or Mouse-eared Fishing Bat)
About the Plan of Management
The Plan of Management for the Field of Mars Reserve was adopted by Council on 9 September 2009 and it provides strategic direction for the future management and use of the Reserve. The objectives of the Plan of Management recognise the important environmental values of the Reserve as paramount. These values underpin the management policies, actions and decisions defined in the Plan of Management.
Due to the unique qualities and location of the Field of Mars Reserve the Plan recognises the following values for the Reserve:
- Preservation of the environmental values contained within the Field of Mars Reserve
- Conservation of the natural vegetation of Field of Mars Reserve
- Promotion to enhance greater public awareness and appreciation of the features and value of the Field of Mars Reserve and the need to protect remnant communities within the Sydney region.
- Encouragement of community involvement in environmental and historic education, research, bush regeneration and heritage protection.
- Encouragement of cooperative management with adjacent neighbours to preserve the natural significance of the Field of Mars Reserve.
- Ensure protection of potential and known archaeological resources.
- Promotion of the study and the preservation of native flora and fauna Viable remnant of natural bushland which is rare in the region, and as a unique area of biodiversity for both flora and fauna in Ryde.
Accordingly, the Field of Mars Reserve will be used in future for low impact and environmental recreation and Council will now use this Plan of Management to implement future improvement works in the Park.
Council has worked closely with the community and key stakeholders in the preparation of this Plan of Management. A special notice of thank you is extended to the Ryde Hunter Hill Flora and Fauna Protection Society for their contribution to the preparation of the Plan of Management.
View the Field of Mars Plan of Management
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