Blackwood Forest: A Hidden Treasure Located just 25 minutes from the City

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   The powerful stories, rich history and towering pine trees located within the breathtaking 20.8 hectares of Blackwood Forest make it a locally cherished place worth visiting.

   Blackwood Forest Recreation Park is located in Hawthorndene, right next to the suburb of Blackwood, which the forest is named after.  Overshadowed by the larger Belair National Park located 3 kilometres away, this nature reserve remains a hidden gem to those who are lucky enough to stumble upon it.

  The Blackwood Forest site was acquired in 1908 by the South Australian government for use as an experimental orchard, planting many types of fruit and nut trees. In 1927, a census counted more than 4,000 varieties of fruit trees and, amazingly, it was considered to be the largest collection of varieties in one plantation anywhere in the world. The site was used for horticultural research up until the 1960s, when the fruit trees were removed and pine trees were planted in their place under management of the Woods and Forests Department. In the 1980s it was no longer needed for forestry purposes and the community pushed for it to become a recreation park.

   The community’s fight to save one of the only open spaces in the Blackwood area lasted 16 years. A battle which David Wyatt, a local history volunteer, says reflects the anti-suburban nature of the residents. “They value its history and amenities, its good walking trails, and exceptionally beautiful environment,” says Wyatt. Community members considered the forest “too precious to lose” and the destruction of it a “threat to our environment and quality of life.”

   Petitions containing more than 5,500 signatures were distributed to the local government and numerous protests occurred on the steps of Parliament House. In 2001, after a lengthy and exhausting battle, the Blackwood Forest Reserve was declared permanent open space as part of the Greater Mount Lofty Parklands.

   The park’s office, located near the Turners Avenue carpark, was built by a local builder around 1909. The community house, located further inside the forest was built around 1911 by the office builder’s son. Orchard managers and their families lived in this house until the orchard closed in 1968. While volunteers made some efforts to maintain this historical home, in December 2008 it was severely damaged by an unfortunate fire and had to be demolished.

   Blackwood Forest is a perfect place for dog-walkers, photographers, bike riders and nature lovers, with numerous bike and walking trails throughout the park. There are plenty of places to sit and plenty of areas to explore, information signs are located all throughout the area.

   The forest can be accessed from numerous points; the most popular is Turners Avenue, which can be accessed through Blackwood via Main Road.

   The forest can also be accessed from Devonshire Road or St Thomas Street, both accessed from Batley Avenue, off Main Road. These access routes will place you at the top of the forest’s incline, whereas the Turners Avenue route will place you at the bottom of the forest.

   If you don’t feel like driving, take the Belair train to the Blackwood stop. Once alighting from the train, walk from Station Road to Main road and take the same route to Turners Avenue. The walk takes around 15 minutes.