Ferndale Park
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type = other
| name = Ferndale Park
| state = nsw
| iucn_category =
| image = Swaines Creek Cave & Angophora.JPG
| caption = "Old Man's Cave" and Swaines Creek
| image_alt = 45
| coordinates = {{coord|33|48|00|S|151|10|12|E|display=inline,title}}
| relief = 1
| map_alt =
| nearest_town_or_city = Sydney
| area =
| area_footnotes =
| established =
| established_footnotes =
| visitation_num =
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| managing_authorities = City of Willoughby
| url = http://www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/Environment---Sustainability/nature/bushland/Bushwalks/Tracks/
}}
Ferndale Park is located in suburban {{NSWcity|Chatswood}}, {{cvt|8|km|mi|0}} from the centre of Sydney, Australia. It is an importantA detailed fauna study completed in 2001 by Dr Arthur White of Biosphere Consultancy{{cite web |title=LANE COVE RIVER CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Bushland Inventory |url=http://ns1.mattheij.com/RainForest/vines/4371/FINALREP.htm |date=November 1998 |access-date=9 October 2015}} urban forest reserve, preserving Blackbutt forest and the mossy gully rainforest.{{cite web |title=Sustainability/nature/bushland/Bushwalks/Tracks |url=http://www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/Environment---Sustainability/nature/bushland/Bushwalks/Tracks/ |work=Bushwalking Tracks |publisher=City of Willoughby |access-date=10 October 2015}} Most of this original forest was cleared for agriculture and housing in the 19th and 20th century.
Geography
Average annual rainfall is {{cvt|1200|mm|in|0}} at the nearby Chatswood Bowling Club.http://www.bom.gov.au/ Chatswood Bowling Club Weather Station Soils are moderately fertile, based on Hawkesbury sandstone and Ashfield Shale.NSW Government Geological Series Sheet 9130 Edition 1, 1983 Most of the reserve is considered part of the Sydney Sandstone Gully Forest.
History
The local indigenous Australian people, the Cammeraygal, occupied this area for at least 5,800 years.Fact Sheet 8 – Chatswood West – Willoughby City Council They were known to shelter in "Old Man's Cave" in heatwaves or heavy rain.City of Willoughby information sign
Recreation
Ferndale Park has a series of walking tracks. Office workers from Chatswood may be seen jogging through the reserve at lunchtime and after work.Wild Walks – Ferndale Park [http://www.wildwalks.com/bushwalking-and-hiking-in-nsw/lane-cove-national-park/ferndale-loop.html Wild Walks – Ferndale Park]
Flora
Noteworthy indigenous flora includes the blackbutt, tree heath, celery wood, coachwood, native crabapple and hard corkwood. An impressive number of fern species grow here,{{cite web |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/17674930@N07/15676855083/in/photolist-sz3QSa-raav5u-qJVM5E-qZAorx-qxxieQ-pTiYQT-qQ5VSr-pGLw3p-oMDwug-p4TcSV-p1ouyC-oxN6gs-o4XMSc-o4Rob3-nLaw4f-jYjsU9-jE5rMW-jDHti5-jE37zS-7HX5fb-5Ebnbq |title=Birds Nest Fern |date=17 January 2015 |publisher=Flickr |access-date=10 October 2015}} including jungle brake, fishbone water fern, filmy fern, Japanese lady fern, delicate rock fern and the necklace fern. The green cliff brake is an invasive fern species. The endangered dwarf finger fern grows on sandstone cliffs. In winter, waxcap mushroom species in the Hygrophoraceae may be seen.North Shore Times, 26 June 2015 page 23
Fauna
Ring-tail possums, brushtail possums and grey-headed flying foxes are common. Birds such as brushturkeys, rainbow lorikeets, Australian king parrots, crimson rosellas, currawongs, owlet-nightjar, koel, tawny frogmouth, pacific bazaWildlife Willougby Facebook Page (Willoughby City Council) 12 September 2015 and powerful owlWildlife Willougby Facebook Page (Willoughby City Council) 5 October 2015 are some of the many found in the park. Microbats are present, including Gould's wattled bat, Lesser long-eared bat and the Little Forest Bat. Many species of spider and other invertebrates live in the reserve. The Emerald Spotted Frog is known to occur.North Shore Times, 17 July 2015 page 21 An important remnant marsupial is the sugar glider.Ferndale Walking Track pamphlet, City of Willoughby
Bush regeneration
References
{{Commons category|Ferndale Park}}
{{reflist}}
{{Parks in Sydney|state=autocollapse}}
Category:Parks in New South Wales