Grass Tree Conservation Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Grass Tree Conservation Park South Australia
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Grass Tree Conservation Park Location in South Australia
Nearest town or city	Naracoorte
Established	17 August 1972 (1972-08-17)
Area	16 hectares (40 acres)
Visitation	‘very little visitor use’ (in 1992)
Managing authorities	Department for Environment and Water
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

Grass Tree Conservation Park is a special protected area in South Australia. It is located in the Limestone Coast region, near a place called Cadgee. The park is about 17 kilometers (11 miles) north of the town of Naracoorte.

This park was created on August 17, 1972. Its main goal is to protect a group of unique plants called grass trees. Even though the land was not used for farming, it seems that animals like livestock grazed there before it became a park. This is because some non-native grasses can be found in the area.

What Makes Grass Tree Park Special?

In 1992, experts looked closely at Grass Tree Conservation Park. They studied the ground and the plants growing there.

Park Soils and Land

The ground in the park is mostly made of deep, sandy soil. This sand is often light yellow-grey. Some parts of the park also have shallower, reddish, sandy soil. These different soil types help various plants grow.

Plants and Trees You Can Find

The park has three main types of plant areas:

• Brown Stringybark Trees: These trees form a "low woodland" area. They grow in sandy soils, especially on old sand dunes.
• Pink Gum Trees: You can find an "open forest" of pink gum trees in the middle of the park. These trees grow on a stony, limestone area.
• South Australian Blue Gum Trees: A smaller "open forest" of South Australian blue gum trees is in the park's south-east. This area is home to grass trees, Austral bracken, and rice flower plants.

Visiting Grass Tree Conservation Park

As of 1992, not many people visited Grass Tree Conservation Park. There are no special visitor facilities like picnic areas or restrooms. However, there are tracks about 5 meters (16 feet) wide along the park's west, south, and east edges. These tracks help people access the park boundaries.

Protecting Nature

Grass Tree Conservation Park is listed as an IUCN Category III protected area. This means it is recognized internationally as a "Natural Monument or Feature." This category is for areas that protect specific natural features, like the special grass trees found here.