It's Autumn

The autumn leaves at Hollybank Nature Reserve not far from Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.  I've shown photos before of this area but not these photos only the last one a few years back.  This area is a picnic area and there are many walks to take in the bush.

At Hollybank

Hollybank is not that far from Launceston, Tasmania and we've been several times before in the autumn and winter usually on a nice day.  The scenery is different each time we go so the photos are always different too.  There are plenty of walks to do, and cricket pitch or it's just a nice peaceful place to visit or have a picnic.

Wattle leaves - soon be wattle time, looking forward to the beautiful yellow flowers.

Holly in the winter at Hollybank.

Finally the sun peeked through

Hollybank Part2.

Part 2.
Hollybank Reserve.
The sun came out and cast the shadows of the tall trees.

Another type of fungi - a happy one I believe not to be touched.

A couple having lunch and on the other side of the Reserve is another picnic area.

The last of Autumn colour.

Holly and Hollybank, not much left I'm afraid.

The below photo is of the road our or into the Reserve.

Hollybank, Launceston

Part 1.
First outing for while apart for essentials.
There will another part of Hollybank then I will return to last years holiday in winter.

Tasmania's first restriction lifted so:
Last Monday Tasmanian's were permitted from then on to visit National Parks and Reserves within 30 km from their homes for exercise purposes until further notice.
We fortunately have a few Reserves around within that mileage so we ventured to Hollybank, just 25km from home.  It's a walking area with lots of walking tracks, plus there is a cricket pitch of some sort, not very good, and lots of tables and seats for a picnic.
I exercised my right to take photos, I thought that was good exercise.
There are many tall trees of various kinds and of course being the end of Autumn the few autumn tree colours were just about gone.
Not a lot of colour there at Hollybank but certainly different coloured greens.
I've shown photos of Hollybank before probably last year, it always looks different.

The above tree is a wattle tree with new growth.

A bit of fungi

The loos.

The barbecue area and some wood to light a fire in the fireplace provided.

Walk amid the Treetops.

One can go up amid the treetops and walk or climb through wood tunnels.  If you wish to see a better view, click on the images to make them larger.
At Hollybank Treetops Adventure Nature Reserve.

Trees,

Trees galore at the Hollybank Nature Reserve.  

In the middle of this area is a cricket pitch, it's a big bare area.

Hollybank Trees, Launceston

More on Hollybank Nature Reserve.

In 1854 as history goes, the Reserve was a Sawmill, back then the grant deed covered 240 hectares purchased on 16 February 1854, making it one of the oldest land grants in the area. The deed seems to first belong to a carpenter and another man a solicitor with considerable interest in land in Northern Tasmania.
Over the years farming was in the area, men trained at Hollybank for the bush and became accredited in timber skills, then the Forestry Commission bought the property and in April 1955 the commission purchased it for 2809 pounds ($22,500 in today’s values). They the Forestry Commission take care of Hollybank Nature Reserve these days.

Today it's known as Hollybank Nature Reserve and Treetop Adventures.

Photos of some of the trees which I took about 1 week ago.  The first photo was taken near the Cricket Pitch!

The photo below is the only bit of holly I could find without dust all over it!

Below a bit out of focus holly with dust!

Tennis Rackets, Launceston, Tasmania.

Hollybank Nature Reserve not far from Launceston and has a history with tennis.
Once Hollybank was once a Nusery and of course trees were introduced.

The link with tennis is that the 1st Alexander Tennis Rackets were made from imported English Ash grown at Hollybank from about 1933, 109,200 Ash trees were planted, the trees took a long time to grow and it's believed no rackets were made from the wood from Hollybank.
The plantation didn't take quite as well as planned, and was abandoned in 1946.
Some of the wood used in their products was still sourced locally, however, Willow harvested from the North Esk River was used for the company to make Cricket Bats.
Other trees planted were 800 Corsican pine planted in 1935, experimental plots of Larch, Douglas Fir, Californian Redwood and Western Hemlock.

The Alexander factory was wound down in the late 1950's and sold to Spalding in Victoria, Australia, Spalding being another brand of tennis rackets.
Photo of the factory is borrowed...

The Factory is now the Police Boys Club.