Why You Should Visit Caulfield Park

Source: jbjournalismforum.wordpress.com

Caulfield Park is located in the suburb of North Caulfield along Balaclava, Inkerman and Hawthorn Roads and is a great place to visit, for its many species of flora and fauna, the Aviary Garden (Glen Eira City Council, 2012) its scenic lake, heritage structures, running track and many good sports areas.

The North-West corner in particular is worth visiting as it contains a heritage area with a large variety of native and European trees, some over 100 years old, a variety of historic structures, such as the bandstand from the 1920's, and a scenic lake inhabited by ducks, geese and fish.

 The northwest corner features two important trees, the heritage listed Cussonia spicata (South African Cabbage Tree) (National Trust of Australia – Victoria, 2012) and the Araucaria bidwilli (Bunya Pine) (the largest tree in the park).

  

Cussonia spicata (South African Cabbage Tree):

•         Location- North-west corner of Caulfield Park

•         This tree is from South Africa. It is very rare and is in the Significant Tree Register of the National Trust of Australia: National Trust of Australia – Victoria, 2012, Cussonia spicata, accessed on 2^nd May 2012, <http://www.nattrust.com.au/trust_register/search_the_register/cussonia_spicata >.

•         According to the National Trust (Nation Trust of Australia – Victoria, 2012), the tree is over 70 years old and is the best example known in cultivation.

Source: caulfieldpark.com

Palm Trees: According to the 2001 Master Plan of the park (The City of Glen Eira, 2001), there are 3 species of palm trees at the park: Phoenix caneriesis (Canary Island palm), Butia capitata (Jelly Palm), from Brazil and Washington robusta (Mexican Fan Palm).

Araucaria bidwilli (Bunya Pine):

•         Location: North-west side of Caulfield Park

  

Betula pendula (Silver Birch):

•         Location: Eastern side of Caulfield Park lake

•         There are seven birch trees on the eastern side of the lake. These trees are from Europe and can reach heights of 25m.

•         The silver birch is a deciduous tree. It has arched branches and drooping branch-lets.

•         Its trunk is slender and it has white bark, with black patches.

  

There is a scenic lake located on the west side of the park.

  

There are a number of birds living in the park (ducks, geese and several smaller birds).

  

Many birds visit the park, including galahs, lorikeets, kookaburras, parrots, cockatoos, swallows, pigeons, magpies and noisy miners (below).

References:

Glen Eira City Council, 2001, Caulfield Park Master Plan, accessed on 2^nd May 2012, <http://www.gleneira.vic.gov.au>.

Glen Eira City Council, 2012, Caulfield Park – the Aviary Garden, accessed on 2^nd May 2012, <http://www.gleneira.vic.gov.au>.

National Trust of Australia – Victoria, 2012, Cussonia spicata, accessed on 2^nd May 2012, <http://www.nattrust.com.au/trust_register/search_the_register/cussonia_spicata>.

The Friends of Caulfield Park, 2012, The Trees of Caulfield Park, accessed on 2^nd May 2012, <http://www.caulfieldpark.com/trees-in-caulfield-park.html>.