April Outing Details - McEwan State Forest Stoneleigh, 3 April 2022

Naturalizing in McEwan State Forest

This outing is still going ahead. The road in was checked on Friday and is OK. After McEwan State Forest, your leader will continue to Irongate Conservation Park.

Time: 7.30 am leaving Neil Street after car-pooling. 8.30 am - 8.45 am outside the Pittsworth Post Office.

Where: McEwan State Forest at Stoneleigh.

Directions: The state forest can be accessed via Young Road off Stoneleigh Road, Stoneleigh. There is an unlocked gate at the top of Young Road then the track leads down to a locked gate near the picnic table within the state forest.

Activities: Walking within the property. McEwan should be a treat after all the recent rain but don’t forget the insect repellent. There are good walking tracks transecting the park and the area around the entrance is flat for easy walking.

The estate has an interesting history. It was gifted to the State by its owner Jack McEwan on his death at 92 years in 2006. The landform is mostly moderate to steep hills interspersed with black soil flats. Some interesting plant species found there are the rare and threatened Hawkweed (Picris evae), and Austral Cornflower (Rhaponticum australe). Fauna that also has been recorded includes Koala, Common Wallaroo, Common Dunnart (Sminthopsis murina), Australian Coral Snake (Brachyurophis australis), Spotted Black Snake (Pseudechis guttatus), Painted Honeyeater, Black Falcon, Turquoise Parrot and the locally rare dragonfly Royal Tigertail (Parasynthemis regina).

Facilities: There are no facilities. There is no water and only one picnic bench. The nearest toilets are in Pittsworth. 

What to Bring: You should be fully self-catering and outfitted for this outing; food, water, chair and table. Also advisable are sturdy shoes, a hat and insect repellent. Cameras, binoculars, field guides are optional.