Terry and Barb Wright are the owners of Raintrees Native and Rainforest Gardens, a property located in Diamond Beach, approximately 100km south of Port Macquarie, New South Wales. The property is a botanical garden, arboretum and wildlife sanctuary also used for education. Terry and Barb wish to retain the gardens in the care of their family for as long as possible, and have registered the property with Land for Wildlife.
The property spans 2.5 hectares and features endemic stands of cabbage palm (Livistona australis) and bangalow palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana) swamp forest, wet sclerophyll and sclerophyll forest. Planting of extensive areas of subtropical, dry and tropical rainforest trees commenced in 1993. With a dense canopy now established, the owners have begun planting understory plants as well as introducing native epiphytes to suitable host trees. An intermittent watercourse intersects the property and pathways provide access to all areas.
A prominent feature of the property is its deep green mossy pathways.
The established rainforest areas are now well developed with many fruiting and flowering species providing habitat for a wide range of wildlife. The arboretum is comprised of over 1,000 subtropical, tropical, dry and littoral rainforest species. Among these are two critically endangered species which are native to the property: scrub stringybark (Rhodamnia rubescens) and native guava (Rhodomyrtus psidioides). Many other rare and endangered plants have also been introduced into the arboretum.
A wide range of wildlife is present including swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor), white-headed (Columba leucomela), brown (Macropygia phasianella) and wonga (Leucosarcia melanoleuca) pigeons, native snakes and lizards, leeches, fireflies, owls, parrots and a range of other native birds. Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are sometimes heard in the forest, but sightings are becoming increasingly uncommon. The owners are planning to install nesting boxes to support bird and mammal populations in the near future.
Property inspection by appointment – bdimages@wc.net.au
Flickr – Black Diamond Images
