Friends of Narnungga Urban Forest

Interesting little article from the ABC. Can't help feeling there are a few connections here with the Malinauskas Construction Company's attitude regarding park lands and development.

SA auditor-general wants better access to cabinet submissions to scrutinise projects. Will he get his way? An independent financial watchdog wants laws changed so they can have better access to SA cabinet submissions, amid concerns approvals for billions of dollars in government spending can't be reviewed. State political reporter Rory McClaren explains.

2 Concerning Societal Trends -
Environmental Generational Amnesia & Domination World View

An interesting study looking at how urban parks help reverse these trends can be accessed at -
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2020.00002/full

"Relatively Wild Urban Parks Can Promote Human Resilience and Flourishing: A Case Study of Discovery Park, Seattle, Washington"

Human interaction with nature is vital for physical health and mental well-being, and positions a community to be resilient to urban stressors. Yet urban development continues to put pressures on natural areas within urban boundaries. As a case in point, Seattle’s largest park, Discovery Park, of over 500 acres, is often under threat of someform of development. The central question of this study was whether the benefits to visitors of Discovery Park depend, in no small measure, on the park’s very size and relative wild landscape. Toward addressing this question, 320 participants provided written narratives about the meaningful ways in which they interacted with nature at Discovery Park.

Discussion focuses on how human interaction with large and relatively wild urban parks helps reverse the trend of environmental generational amnesia, and a domination world view, and thus should be prioritised in urban planning.

Relatively Wild Urban Parks Can Promote Human Resilience and Flourishing: A Case Study of Discovery Park, Seattle, Washington Human interaction with nature is vital for physical health and mental well-being, and positions a community to be resilient to urban stressors. Yet urban development continues to put pressures on natural areas within urban boundaries. As a case in point, Seattle's largest park, Discovery Park, of ov...

As part of the My Home Tree campaign by Conservation SA, I thought I'd add one of my favourite trees - a Eucalyptus that my Darling and I planted in our back garden about 10 years ago. It had a rough patch when a neighbour complained about it and we were forced to chop it down to a small stump. But it came back bigger and better and now feeds a multitude of birds, who adore the red blossoms, and all the insects residing in the bark. This tree is beautiful, resilient, strong and home.

Lemon Gums in Narnungga Urban Forest.

Spending tranquil time in Nature feeds the Soul and nurtures the Heart. Whether you spend more time in your local park or sit in your garden, allow yourself to feel the Earth connecting with you, listen to the birds, watch the colours of dawn paint the sky or the stars peeking through the violet and orange of sunset. Listen, feel, b . r . e . a . t . h . e . . . . Nature is precious.

://www.facebook.com/peopleandparks

Have you made your #NaturePact? | People & Parks This September we’re calling on everyone to make a and sign up to a daily Nature Dose!

🎂 Happy Birthday, Gladys! 🥂💐

“Nature play is well known for its positive effects on children’s health, development, and wellbeing,” Dankiw says in the statement, “and this was a common theme when interviewing parents and carers alike.”

A recent study by University of South Australia shows that, while most parents agree with the idea of nature-related play, their enthusiasm is limited to “clean” play, not allowing children to participate in play that is considered “messy” or “risky”. These activities can include playing in water or mud and climbing.

Though most parents are reluctant to allow children to play, studies show 96% of children who engaged in nature play experienced improved cognitive development.

What are your thoughts on letting your children play “messy” or “risky”? Read more in this article by Mint Lounge.
https://bit.ly/3DZXJyj

Spontaneous visual moments that caught my attention.

A beautiful day and a stack of rubbish. Okay, I'll admit there was an event of some sort the night before ;). Usual type of thing - plastic, fast food containers, masks, bedding - but a gazebo, cooler, solar lights!!!

Many thanks to the folks that came along for your time and kind hearts to help this lovely urban forest. Regulars who visit want to see it grow in health and vitality and appreciate its general atmosphere of tranquility.

The more support it gets, the more likely it will survive.

Many thanks again for your support.

It's great to have a BBQ and picnic seating but for folks to spend a few hours enjoying Narnungga, some facilities (similar to the ones in Bonython Park shown here)need to be provided.

Narnungga Urban Forest has a few great examples of older trees as homes for corellas and possums. Without these trees, where would they live? Answer - they wouldn't.

THE 6 BENEFITS OF URBAN TREES

1. They lower temperatures on streets by as much as 6 degrees.

2. They provide habitat, food, and security for local animals and birds.

3. They improve our health, by reducing pollution, providing shade, encouraging exercise, and helping calm us.

4. They enhance our water supply, by capturing rainfall, and increasing water absorption, and they help prevent flooding.

5. They give us a sense of history and place, by providing a backdrop to our lives and character to our city – and for the Kaurna people, trees are an essential part of their relationship with their country.

EVERY YEAR, Adelaide loses 75,000 trees, largely through removal of trees on private properties.

For too long, it has been too easy for property developers and land-owners to remove trees – even tall trees with large trunks.

Write to your local MP, to the Premier, and the Opposition Leader!!

Tell them that we need stronger tree-protection laws, for the sake of our environment, our health, and the character and liveability of our city!!

Park Ambassador Iris Iwanicki at one of the stops on our Guided Walk last Sunday in Gladys Elphick Park / Narnungga (Park 25) Art Installation "Eucalyptus Alive". Pic:
Book for our next Guided Walk at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/adelaide-park-lands-association-30241428470

I may be wrong but I think the Urban Forest may need a checking over. Many trees and shrubs are dead or dying, much of the ground cover has died and original stakes and supports have simply been left (see the choking tree pics). I would very much like to chat with an expert on Australian Natives to ask if this is all normal or if some care and attention is needed to replace plants, if more mulch is required and if exposed pipes should be attended to.

A bit of maintenance needed here in Narnungga. Exposed water pipes have suffered at the hands of vandals, who have also damaged and set fire to trees. Yes, trees do fall with strong storms and make great homes for critters however I'm sure most fo the dead or dying trees and shrubs could have avoided their fate with a bit more attention. Why has this park been neglected?

NB - the choking tree (last photo) will be cut free this weekend. Hopefully it will survive and thrive.

Narnungga Urban Forest is getting a bit of nurturing 🥰 . Register here -
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/clean-up-narnungga-urban-forest-park-25-tickets-167935542729

Clean Up Narnungga Urban Forest (Park 25) In co-operation with the Clean Up Australia' organisation, it's a two-hour working bee to clean up the Narnungga Urban Forest in Park 25.

Adelaide Park Lands Association holds guided walks through our beautiful parklands. Find out more here - https://www.adelaide-parklands.asn.au/guided-walks

Join Park Ambassador Iris Iwanicki for a guided walk through Gladys Elphick Park / Narnungga (Park 25), a Park with two halves and two very different stories on Sunday 14th November.
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/guided-walk-through-gladys-elphick-park-narnungga-park-25-tickets-158046002849?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Guided Walk through Gladys Elphick Park / Narnungga (Park 25) Join Park Ambassador Iris Iwanicki for a guided tour of a Park with two halves, and two very different stories.

Adelaide Park Lands Association has this informative video that's worth checking out. Find out more about the association and the great work they do in protecting Adelaide's beautiful park lands at https://www.adelaide-parklands.asn.au/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXFpUUn1Vf0&t=1s

Gladys Elphick Park / Narnungga (Park 25) Gladys Elphick Park / Narnungga (Park 25) - part of the world-unique, National Heritage-listed Adelaide Park Lands

Welcome!
Also known as Gladys Elphick Park (Park 25), the park is bisected by two train lines heading roughly north-west / south-east. To the east, the SA Cricket Association's playing fields. To the west, a former 5.5 hectare SA Water Depot was demolished in 2010, making way for what then became known as the Narnungga Urban Forest, located at the corner of Port Rd and James Congdon Drive, within Park 25.

This page is dedicated to the western section - the Urban Forest.

The goal of this page is to bring together those individuals and organisations that see Narnungga Urban Forest as a place not of competitive active sports but a place of peace, tranquility and gentleness; a place of stress relief and relaxation, which I think is particularly vital now, for physical well being and mental health.

More than ever, reconnecting with Nature is proving to be beneficial for our well-being. I believe Narnungga Urban Forest is the perfect location for quiet walks, gentle exercise such as Tai Chi and education for children on the conservation of local plants and wildlife.

With so much of the world's natural places destroyed or at risk, I feel this little park might stand as an example of community spirit with a compassionate heart that seeks to nurture and protect Nature for future generations and not allow Narnungga Urban Forest to disappear under development.

We may find ourselves overwhelmed with global concerns but care and action can be accomplished much easier at a local level.

Calling people who are passionate about conservation, education and gentle healing for mind, body and spirit. I hope you will join me in my vision.

We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Kaurna people, the traditional custodians whose ancestral lands we gather on. We acknowledge the deep feelings of attachment and relationship of the Kaurna people to country and we respect and value their past, present and ongoing connection to the land and cultural beliefs.