Preparing to set off
We were curious; none of us had been to The Ponds; at the end of the day all 21 walkers agreed that The Ponds had been an eye opener. As one of Landcom’s most successful greenfield sustainability projects, The Ponds struck us as very new, very clean and very neat.
aOur focus was on the riparian zone of Second Ponds Creek with its numerous linked concrete pathways which led us round the lake, through the parks, ovals and bushland and bridged the wetlands (which were not so ‘wet’ at present). In our travels we came upon many unexpected installations of quirky public art from the very simple to the very elaborate.
Ceremonial statue in the Gathering Lindy's favourite Rusted sculpture
Morning tea stop
The tree planting of the Landcare projects will be a future source of shade and we mused that it’d be a good choice were the eucalypts Apple Tree Gums – Tallawong in the Darug language.
Even in the heat, birdlife was abundant with ducks, swans and water hens on the lake, Red Browed Finches, tiny Blue Wrens, Fantails and Willy Wag Tails in the grasses and the ubiquitous Topnotch Pigeons and magpies sharing our lunch spot.
Not all the wildlife was friendly and we definitely used CAUTION to stick to the concrete paths rather than venturing onto the narrow dirt tracks through the bushland.
One of many creeks Paths and bridges well made
We managed to finish the walk before the mercury rose to its predicted maximum but we certainly enjoyed the air-con on the Metro home.
Lunch Groups 1, 2 and 3
Colleen and Mary led Nick B, Sue B, Gabriella, Ann D, Michael and Sue, Judy, Sue K, Helen L, Cherry, Lyndy, Dawn, Bill, John M, Wendy P, David R, John S, Dennis and Drina.
Our thanks go to First Aider Lyndy, Tailenders Michael and Nick, to Michael and Sue who substituted for us as Meeters and Greeters at Chatswood Station and to all our happy walkers.
Photography: Lyndy (5) / Drina (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)