100 Years of the Field of Mars

The definitive history of the Field of Mars is now available free of charge.
100 Years of Field of Mars Reserve, 1887-1987, Written and compiled by Rod Wallace, has now been digitized and can be viewed or downloaded on this website.
Published in 1987 by the Ryde Hunters Hill Flora and Fauna Preservation Society, the book is a fascinating and informative chronicle of the century prior to that date.
The print version is still available in the Visitor Centre.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE FIELD OF MARS

Our committee has had further consultations with City of Ryde Council staff, about the proposed pathway from the Buffalo Creek footbridge to the Visitor Centre veranda. Plans for this are now being finalised. It seems likely that it will come at bridge level to the vehicle access road, and a separate path may be constructed to lead directly out to the road from the accessible toilet (on the western side of the Visitor Centre), with levels adjusted to remove the step by the veranda.
There was some minor flood damage to the tracks in upper areas of the Reserve during summer rainstorms, but bushcare volunteers cleared away fallen trees and debris to keep the tracks open.

WILDLIFE
The usual birdlife has continued to roam around the Visitor Centre with ducks, turkeys and ibis being commonly seen. And wildflowers have enjoyed the mix of hot, dry and wet weather in summer.

Glades Bay Owls
Some residents in the vicinity are objecting to the bushes planted in the Glades Bay Road Reserve as part of the City of Ryde’s ‘Protecting Trees With Hollows’ project undertaken in 2021. Community feedback is sought on the “Restoration of Glades Bay Road Reserve at Ross Street” project which has protected native plants, native animals, and their habitat, whilst still providing recreation opportunities for the local community.
Society members have been active in promoting the planting and growth of native trees and shrubs in this area, and we encourage you to undertake the online survey to support the City of Ryde Council’s efforts with this project. We need to protect this valuable nesting area.
Please do the survey by following this link: https://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/HaveyourSay/Have-Your-Say/Restoration-of-Glades-Bay-Road-Reserve-at-Ross-Street - deadline is 2 April.

BUSHCARE
All volunteer sites within the Field of Mars Reserve are now back in full operation, weather permitting. A recent fortnight of dry weather made weeding a little more difficult, but the return of rain has been welcome to soften the soil and promote growth of desirable species. Where riparian areas are cleared – particularly at the Monash Road site – there is often very quick colonization by native species of Sigesbeckia and Persicaria. Both are annual plants which grow prolifically with the effect of discouraging return of undesirable weeds. They may also choke out native seedlings, so in some places they are considered to be Australian native weeds!

VISITOR CENTRE
Society members Karen and Lyn have been busy cleaning and tidying our resources in the centre and we thank them for their efforts. There has, however, been a recent disappointment with the computer kiosk no longer working. We are currently investigating its repair or replacement.
JOIN OUR VISITOR CENTRE TEAM! to keep the Visitor Centre open 9am-5pm on weekends and public holidays. Our roster of 4-hour shifts is negotiated according to members’ availability.
No specialised skills are required, and Alfred happily provides the training needed.
Most visitors’ questions are answered in the maps and range of free leaflets we have available.

Field of Mars Reserve and Wildlife Refuge

Dry eucalypt woodland covers much of the Field of Mars Reserve. This vegetation is typical of the dry, infertile sandstone soils found in Sydney's north and is known as dry sclerophyll woodland. Many of the plants in this area have hard, waxy leaves that tend to be small and narrow, features which help to reduce moisture loss.

Despite being only 56 hectares in size, the reserve contains around 300 species of plants. These plants support an even greater array of animals from the tiniest spiders to large possums and birds.

Surveys conducted in 2006 found evidence of animals that were believed to be missing from the reserve. These include Sugar Gliders, Echidnas and Long Nosed Bandicoots. Control of pest species like foxes may be contributing to the return of animals to the reserve. Also Brush Turkeys are seen regularly and a swamp wallaby was observed in the reserve in 2012.

Along Buffalo and Stranger's Creeks there are long pockets of moist gully vegetation, known as wet sclerophyll forest. Different plant species flourish in the moist conditions found here. Wet sclerophyll forest is characterised by moist rich soils, shadiness and plants with dark green, soft leaves. The cool, moist conditions found within these gullies create the perfect habitat for some of the reserve's animals like finches, wrens, whip birds and ringtail possums.

The location of the Field of Mars:
Google Maps Location

You are very welcome to explore the Reserve using the walking tracks at any time of the day. The walking tracks of the Field of Mars: Field of Mars Walking Track System

The walking tracks map includes several distinct walking tracks. You can find specific information on each of these tracks by downloading the following brochures:
Track notes - Boardwalk
Track notes Doyle-Kunzea
Track notes Doyle-Warada
Track notes - Kunzea
Track notes - Warada Kunzea
Track notes Warada Strangers Creek

Information on birds of the Field of Mars is also available on Birds in the Field of Mars

The Field of Mars is a Wildlife Refuge gazetted under the National Parks and Wildlife Act. Dogs are not allowed in the Reserve. Riding of all types of bikes in the Reserve is also not allowed.

On weekends the RHHFFPS staffs a Visitors Centre in the Field of Mars (see opposite).

Click Here for information on the Plan of Management of the Field of Mars.

Visitors Centre

The Visitors Centre can be found in the Field of Mars off Pittwater Road. Parking is available in the carpark at the front. Volunteers open the centre each Saturday and Sunday.
Drop in to discover more about the environment and the Field of Mars Reserve before you explore and experience it for yourself!
The Visitors Centre can be reached on foot via a number of nearby streets. Car access is via Pittwater Rd. (opposite Buffalo Reserve). ph: 9816 1068
Opening Times
Winter schedule (April to August): Saturday and Sunday 9am - 4pm.
Summer schedule (September to March): Saturday and Sunday 9am - 5pm.
Enquiries from groups or individual wishing to visit during the week are welcome.  Guided bush walks are available by arrangement when volunteers are available. Contact through email address: rhhffps@gmail.com or phone 9817 4935.
The Visitors Centre contains maps, brochures and information on local and wider community environment issues.
Visitors using prams, strollers, walking frames and wheel chairs have easy access to the Centre toilets. The boardwalk provides a short, easy bushwalk.

INVITATION! - JOIN OUR VISITOR CENTRE TEAM ! We have a small number of members on a roster of 4-hour shifts to keep the Visitor Centre open on weekends and public holidays. No specialised skills are required, but we need to be double-vaccinated. Alfred happily provides the small amount of training needed. Frequency and times of each person’s shifts are negotiated individually according to preferences and availability. We enjoy providing this service again now that restrictions allow, so we may continue to enhance community appreciation of the Field of Mars Reserve.
If interested please email Alfred: alfred.vincent@bigpond.com(phone 02 9879 6067).