Belford National Park

Belford National Park is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, 5 km west of Branxton. The park is in the traditional country of the Wonnarua. The park was created in January 2003 under the Lower North East Regional Forest Agreement 2000.^[2] Previously, the park was the Belford State Forest. The park is 294 hectares of isolated forest bounded by the New England Highway to the south.^[3][4]

Belford National Park
IUCN category Ia (strict nature reserve)[1]
Location in New South Wales Show map of New South Wales Location in Australia Show map of Australia
Nearest city	Branxton
Coordinates	32.6484°S 151.3006°E / -32.6484; 151.3006
Area	2.88 square kilometres (1.11 sq mi)
Established	January 2003
Governing body	NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
Website	https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/belford-national-park

Description

There are currently no visitor facilities in the park, and the only permitted activity is bushwalking. The only built trail is the Perimeter Fire Trail, accessible off the New England Highway. Kirkton Road bisects the park, but is not within park boundaries. The park is fully fenced.^[3]

Flora and fauna

Flora

The predominant vegetation community in the park is Central Hunter Ironbark-Spotted Gum-Grey Box Forest, an endangered ecological community. The vulnerable slaty red gum is found within the park.^[3]

Several invasive nonnative plants are found in the park including African olive, prickly pear, tiger pear and mother of millions.^[3]

Fauna

19 species of mammals, 49 birds, 4 reptiles and 4 amphibians are found within the park. The park protects 8 species listed as vulnerable: the powerful owl, grey-crowned babbler, speckled warbler, spotted-tailed quoll, eastern bent-wing bat, eastern freetail-bat, large-footed myotis and squirrel glider.^[3]

Eight nonnative fauna species are found in the park and pose a threat to the native wildlife: dogs, rabbits, foxes, black rats, cats and Indian mynahs (and occasionally cows and horses).^[3]

References

1. Protected Area Profile for Belford National Park from the World Database on Protected Areas. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
2. "Belford National Park". NSW National Parks. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
3. Australia. Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water. Belford National Park Plan of Management. NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, 2010.
4. Woolley, Robyn & Alan (3 May 2018). "Discover: Belford National Park". Around Hermitage: Pokolbin, Hunter Valley Wine Country. Retrieved 7 January 2024.