This 40 ha. bushland is bordered by Glenfern Road and Ferny Creek. Glenfern Road runs along a ridge and the bushland descends into a valley where Ferny Creek runs.
The sign at the New Road entrance.
There are two entrances. One on the corner of New Road and along Glenfern Road. Both locations offer a small off road parking area.
The entrance from New Street. showing the Glenfern Ridge Track.
The entry point in Glenfern Road.
At both entrances the Friends of The Glenfern Valley Bushland provide a plastic box with brochures about the bushland and themselves.
The brochure holder.
Picnic table and information shelter.
Take one, particularly the map of the bushland showing the approximately five kms of walking tracks throughout.
The bushland walking tracks map.
There are thirteen named tracks through the bush, with names of the tracks on vertical posts at every intersection. Some of the tracks named are Manna Gum Track, Wallaby Walk, Wildflower Track and Echidna Track.
One of the many sign posts.
Most of the paths are wide gravel, but a little too steep for wheelchairs.
The wide track and a distant view..
The Buckley Farm Track is a grass track, cut through a swaying mass of native grasses, with several individual specimens standing out among the masses.
The Buckley Farm Track sign.
The Buckley Farm Track grass path.
This stood out.
Looks good close up.
More than 200 indigenous plants call the area home, including regionally threatened grasslands and flora
A stand of trees in grasslands.
A flowering bush.
The Ferny Creek Track is quite narrow and rough but the Creek Side Track is narrower and rougher, although it does provide some close views of the narrow, but bubbling Ferny Creek.
Seat on the banks of Ferny Creek.
A view of Ferny Creek.
The Friends brochure tell that more than 80 bird species have been observed in the bushland, both resident and migratory. The only birds I observed were a number of very small ones flittering among lower branches, moving too fast to identify or photograph. Several noisy minors were seen as was one magpie.
The lone magpie.
Noisy miner.
Mammals, marsupials and reptiles, including Swamp Wallaby, Grey Kangaroo and Echidna are also reported to be in the reserve.
No Australian bush walk would be complete without bracken ferns.
Such a diverse number of birds and animals frequenting the bush means that several visits will give you're a different experience every time. You may be fortunate enough to sight one of the four-legged inhabitants.
A two legged photographer.
Until 2003, the area was used as a rubbish dumping site and damaging incursion by 4WD and motor bikes. The Friends have removed 70 cubic metres of rubbish and 25 car bodies.
Don't forget to duck.
A chain saw pass.
They have planted 100s of trees and installed picnic tables and seats throughout the bush.
The very narrow path on Creek Side Walk.
You can bring your dog, as they too will love the different sights and smells of the bush, but keep them on a leash.
An easy walk on the wide path.
Like many reserves and bushlands that have been in their natural state for many years, fallen trees and branches are left in situ, proving homes for small critters.
An interesting tree.
On the western boundary side of the bushland is the home of the Sherbrooke Archers. It is fenced off and signs let you know of its presence. I mention this so that if you see an arrow, you will know where it came from, not from Cupid in the pay of a secret admirer.
If you like a bushwalk without going bush, you will enjoy this one, with the added attraction of a walk through some native grasslands.
