Caruana Woodland Reserve, Dingley

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Caruana Woodland Reserve is a tiny park in Dingley, south-east of Melbourne. Although small, the reserve is ecologically important as it protects a patch of Plains Grassy Woodland, dominated by splotchy-barked River Red Gum trees.



It's hard to imagine now, but this area was once more of a floodplain, and River Red Gum woodlands were common and widespread throughout the area around Dingley, Springvale, Keysborough, Dandenong and Noble Park. These woodlands have mostly been lost to housing and development, with only smaller areas – such as Caruana Woodland – now protected.



Located on the corner of Wheatland Crescent and Caruana Drive, the reserve has a short paved, but cracked, footpath from the main entrance off Wheatland Crescent. It's not a very long footpath, but walking through the reserve is peaceful and relaxing, and it's a nice diversion from a regular walk along the street and landscaped parks. There is a small dirt track at the end of the footpath to connect with Jolimont Place.



The woodland trees provide important habitat for birds, and various parrots are often seen in the vegetation. Although the natural drainage of the reserve has been altered by development, the reserve can still become waterlogged and inundated after rain, and frogs can often be heard .



Adjacent to the reserve the woodland continues into another protected area managed by VicRoads called the Dingley Road Reserve. This extensive patch of woodland gives the area a lovely bushland feel.

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