The Caruana Woodland Reserve is a 0.5 hectare Woodland, located on the corner of Wheatland Crescent and Caruana Drive, which with the adjacent Dingley Road Reserve provides a significant area of remnant vegetation, woodland, heathland and swamp scrub habitats.
The reserve features the Plains Grassy Woodland (EVC 55) and Plains Swampy Woodland (EVC 651) ecological vegetation classes and is characterised by a tree layer dominated by pure strands of River Red Gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), an indigenous tree capable of growing up to 45 metres tall, with a thick trunk, heavy twisting branches and characteristic grey bark with red patches, and an understorey of indigenous grasses, sedges and rushes.
The soils in the reserve are silty loam and clay soils which are subject to periodic inundation and seasonal waterlogging, reflecting the area's pre-settlement floodplain state.
Numerous bird species have been observed in the reserve, including a variety of parrots which feed on the yellow flowers of the River Red Gums. Skinks are often seen hiding amongst the leaf litter and feeding on the many insects which also inhabit the reserve. Frogs can regularly be heard, Blue Tongue Lizards have been observed on several occasions, and Ringtail possums frequent the reserve.
1A Caruana Drive, Dingley Village 3172 View Map
1A Caruana Drive , Dingley Village 3172