Wingham Brush Nature Reserve
Encyclopedia
Wingham Brush Nature Reserve is a rare example of sub tropical lowland rainforest
. Situated on the Manning River
, New South Wales
, it is 8 hectares in size.
Much of Australia's lowland sub tropical rainforest was cleared for housing and agriculture, leaving only small patches remaining, such as at Wingham Brush The soils are derived from the Manning River. These alluvial soils are enriched from basaltic deposits upstream at Barrington Tops and the Comboyne and Bulga Plateaux. The average annual rainfall is 1100 mm at Wingham
.
. Many other species of bats occur here too. Noteworthy birds occurring here include the Osprey
, Green Catbird
, Wompoo Fruit-dove
and Brush Turkey. Nocturnal gliders and possums occur in the rainforest, as do many species of reptiles, such as the Land Mullet
.
s. Another very common plant is the Giant Stinging Tree. The largest known Blush Walnut was measured at 37 metres tall, with a base of over a metre wide. Other significant tree species include White Cedar
, Black Apple
, White Walnut
, Shiny-leaved stinging tree
, Native Elm, Hairy Rosewood
and Black Booyong.
and Cats Claw Creeper. These meritorious private citizens transformed a badly degraded area into a rainforest resembling its original condition. The "Wingham Brush method" is an internationally recognised technique for rainforest regeneration.
regularly visited the rainforest for the collection of food, medicinal purposes, the collection of fibres for making bags and nets and social gatherings. The rainforest has spiritual significance to local Aboriginal Australians.
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
. Situated on the Manning River
Manning River
The Manning River is a river in the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia that flows through the Manning Valley. It is one of Australia's few large river systems not to be dammed for water supply purposes anywhere along its catchment...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, it is 8 hectares in size.
Much of Australia's lowland sub tropical rainforest was cleared for housing and agriculture, leaving only small patches remaining, such as at Wingham Brush The soils are derived from the Manning River. These alluvial soils are enriched from basaltic deposits upstream at Barrington Tops and the Comboyne and Bulga Plateaux. The average annual rainfall is 1100 mm at Wingham
Wingham, New South Wales
Wingham is a town in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia in the City of Greater Taree north of Sydney. At the 2006 census, Wingham had a population of 4,812.- History :...
.
Fauna
The most obvious mammal species in the rainforest is the Grey-headed Flying FoxGrey-headed Flying Fox
The Grey-headed Flying-Fox, Pteropus poliocephalus, is a megabat native to Australia.Members of the genus Pteropus include the largest bats in the world. The Pteropus genus has currently about 57 recognised species....
. Many other species of bats occur here too. Noteworthy birds occurring here include the Osprey
Osprey
The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
, Green Catbird
Green Catbird
The Green Catbird, Ailuroedus crassirostris is a species of bowerbird found on subtropical forests along the east coast of Australia, from southeastern Queensland to southern New South Wales. Its colouring is emerald green, with faint black markings on the face and white streaks on the neck.Green...
, Wompoo Fruit-dove
Wompoo Fruit-Dove
The Wompoo Fruit Dove , also known as Wompoo Pigeon, is the largest of Fruit Doves native to New Guinea and Australia.-Description:...
and Brush Turkey. Nocturnal gliders and possums occur in the rainforest, as do many species of reptiles, such as the Land Mullet
Land Mullet
Egernia major, also known as Land Mullet, is one of the largest members of the skink family .The species may reach total lengths of up to 60 cm. They are uniform glossy black to brown, with a paler ring around the eye...
.
Flora
76 species of trees occur here. Most evident in Wingham Brush are the large Moreton Bay FigMoreton Bay Fig
Ficus macrophylla, commonly known as the Moreton Bay Fig, is a large evergreen banyan tree of the Moraceae family that is a native of most of the eastern coast of Australia, from the Atherton Tableland in the north to the Illawarra in New South Wales, and Lord Howe Island. Its common name is...
s. Another very common plant is the Giant Stinging Tree. The largest known Blush Walnut was measured at 37 metres tall, with a base of over a metre wide. Other significant tree species include White Cedar
Melia azedarach
Melia azedarach is a species of deciduous tree in the mahogany family, Meliaceae, that is native to Pakistan, India, Indochina Southeast Asia and Australia...
, Black Apple
Planchonella australis
Pouteria australis, also known by the synonym Planchonella australis, is a medium to tall rainforest tree of the family Sapotaceae native to Queensland and New South Wales, Australia...
, White Walnut
Cryptocarya obovata
Cryptocarya obovata is a large laurel growing on basaltic and fertile alluvial soils in eastern Australian rainforests. It is found from Wyong in New South Wales to Gympie in the state of Queensland. Extinct in the Illawarra region , seen in the Illawarra in 1818 by Allan Cunningham...
, Shiny-leaved stinging tree
Dendrocnide photinophylla
Dendrocnide photinophylla, the shining-leaved stinging tree, is a rainforest tree of eastern Australia. It occurs from near the Colo River north west of Sydney to Cooktown in tropical Queensland. A versatile species occurring in many different rainforest types. The specific epithet photinophylla...
, Native Elm, Hairy Rosewood
Dysoxylum rufum
The Hairy Rosewood, Dysoxylum rufum is a rainforest tree in the Mahogany family, found in eastern Australia. It occurs on a variety of different soils and rainforest types...
and Black Booyong.
Rainforest Regeneration
Rainforest regeneration programs have been put in place to encourage local rainforest species and suppress the problem of invasive weeds. The forest was badly infested with weeds until local residents decided to act in 1980. Particularly damaging were the vines, Madeira VineAnredera cordifolia
Anredera cordifolia, commonly known as the Madeira vine or mignonette vine, is a South American species of ornamental succulent vine of the family Basellaceae. The combination of fleshy leaves and thick aerial tubers makes this a very heavy vine...
and Cats Claw Creeper. These meritorious private citizens transformed a badly degraded area into a rainforest resembling its original condition. The "Wingham Brush method" is an internationally recognised technique for rainforest regeneration.
Aboriginal Australians
"Wingan" in the local indigenous Biripi language means "where bats come to drink". Aboriginal AustraliansAustralian Aborigines
Australian Aborigines , also called Aboriginal Australians, from the latin ab originem , are people who are indigenous to most of the Australian continentthat is, to mainland Australia and the island of Tasmania...
regularly visited the rainforest for the collection of food, medicinal purposes, the collection of fibres for making bags and nets and social gatherings. The rainforest has spiritual significance to local Aboriginal Australians.