Concept for Capel Field Naturalist Artwork
The geographical narratives of the artwork will promote an awareness of the major geological components of the landscape.
The story of the Capel River and the Tuart Forest National Park will be focal ecological stories
Ironstone Gully Falls
If you are traveling southeast from Capel towards Donnybrook along Goodwood Road, make sure to stop at Ironstone Gully Falls. In winter, the stream crosses under the road and leads to a beautiful waterfall that drops over a ledge of nine meters.
Ironstone Gully Falls is known for its stunning display of WA wildflowers between August and October, making it an ideal picnic spot for nature enthusiasts.
While there is no official trail, visitors can explore an existing narrow vehicle track that winds throughout the reserve, providing an ideal walking and cycling circuit.
Bird guides recommend Ironstone Gully Falls for its potential for sighting various bird species, including raptors, Red-Tailed and Long-Billed Black Cockatoos, and Scarlet Robins.
Facilities at Ironstone Gully Falls include BBQ and toilet facilities, making it an ideal spot for families and outdoor enthusiasts.
To reach Ironstone Gully Falls, head 17kms southeast from Capel towards Donnybrook along Goodwood Road. The falls are located on a picturesque reserve with ample parking available.
Tuart (Eucalyptus gomphocephala) woodlands and forests of the Swan Coastal Plain
The tuart (Eucalyptus gomphocephala) woodlands and forests of the Swan Coastal Plain have been included on the Critically Endangered list of threatened species and ecological communities under the EPBC Act.
Ludlow Tuart Forest
The nomination for consideration was made in 2016 by the Humane Society International (Australia) and the listing has taken effect from 4 July 2019.The assessment was made by the independent Threatened Species Scientific Committee, an independent group of scientists which gives expert advice on threatened species and ecological communities to the Australian Government’s Minister for the Environment and Energy.
Tuart forest was once common on the Swan coastal plain. It is estimated that before Europeans arrived there were more than 111,600 hectares of tuart woodland. Following clearing for agriculture and urban development, it is estimated that only 35 per cent remains. Residual tuart woodlands have been disturbed by grazing, fire and past timber harvesting.
Most tuart woodlands are now found at Ludlow, Yanchep and Yalgorup national parks. Tuart stands are also conserved in Bold Park and Kings Park, Myalup and McLarty, and at sites near Yanchep, Woodman Point, Port Kennedy and the Harvey Estuary. Smaller remnants of tuart are scattered across its natural range from Jurien to south of Busselton.
Images: The Tuart Forest National Park is located between Capel and Busselton contains the largest remaining section of pure tuart forest.
Tuart Forest National Park
The narrow strip of Tuart (Eucalyptus gomphocephala) forest that links Capel and Busselton is one of the special places of the South-West.
The Tuart Forest National Park protects the largest remaining pure forest of Tuart in the world. It also has the tallest and largest specimens of Tuart trees on the Swan Coastal Plain. Some trees are more than 33 metres high and 10 metres in girth.
There is also a thriving community of fungi, including some species yet to be named.
The park also protects WA’s largest remaining wild population of the endangered western ringtail possum. This is largely because old Tuart trees contain many hollows, while the dense secondary storey of peppermint supplies their major source of food. The forest is also home to the densest population of brushtail possums ever recorded in the State.
Other residents include the brush-tailed phascogale, bush rat, kangaroo, quenda (also known as the southern brown bandicoot), at least 11 species of birds of prey and nocturnal birds. Adjoins the Ludlow State Forest.
https://exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au/park/tuart-forest-national-park
https://biocache.ala.org.au/explore/your-area#-33.6214|115.4470|12|ALL_SPECIES
Tuart ‘Shedded Giant’ at Mallokup Road in Capel, Mainland Australia, Australia
There is one Tuart (Eucalyptus gomphocephala) at Mallokup Road in Capel (Western Australia).
This tree is called “Shedded Giant”. Tree was measured using a laser technology TruPulse 360R laser and Criterion RD 1000 dendrometer in 2020. Trunk volume 73.3 cubic metres and total volume is 103.5 cubic metres. Has lost over 10 cubic metres of wood in fallen limbs.
The girth of the tree, measured at a height of 1.40 m, is 11.60 m (Dec 15, 2020, Russell Du Guesclin). Its height is exactly 34 m (Dec 15, 2020, Laser with Two-point measurement (e.g. Nikon Forestry 550/Pro) – sine method, Russell Du Guesclin). This tree germinated / was planted in 1621, which makes it exactly 402 years old (Russell Du Guesclin, Mar 3, 2021).
