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“Hi, I'm Shannon, during the summer of 2011 as a bursary student with Forestry Tasmania, I took the challenge to visit Forestry Tamania's 52 visitor sites.
Springfield Forest Reserve and Picnic Area are located in the foothills under Mount Maurice in Tassie’s north east. To get there you head out of Scottsdale, past the EcoCentre on the Tasman Highway and take the turnoff to Springfield. Eventually you will see the green Forestry Tas signs which will guide you into the picnic area.
The reserve is 35 hectares in total, and a part of this has been dedicated for recreational use and it seems quite popular with the locals. Originally, the site was a dairy farm, and then in the 1940s with the recognised need to find a suitable tree species for timber plantations, this area was dedicated as a trial plantation area used for research. These were set up in various places throughout the state with a variety of exotic species planted to see which would grow best in Tasmanian conditions.
A loop walking track starts from the picnic area and takes you through the Arboretum. Back in the 1940s, dozens of species were planted however some simply did not survive or were damaged by animals. However, the ones that did survive are still thriving, and along the walk you can see Douglas Fir, Big Tree, Japanese Cedar, Poplars and several other species. In the end it was Radiata Pine that was chosen as the most resilient species and was then used in timber plantations.
It was 1984 that this area was declared as a forest reserve and has continued to be used particularly in summer by local residents and passers through. The reserve boasts picnic tables and wood fuelled BBQ’s and I found the walk fascinating particularly after researching a bit of the history.
GPS Coordinates :
LAT : 41°12'16.13"S
LON : 147°29'28.27"E
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Always check our road and track closure information before setting off on your journey (click here)
52 Places to Visit