Words and pictures: Elizabeth Osborne

The historic town of Richmond, in the Coal River Valley, is the start of the Richmond Park Track to Brinktop Bushland Reserve, an easy three kilometre walk from the town.

Richmond is a twenty-minute drive, north east of Hobart, along the Tasman Highway, with ample parking in the Richmond Bridge carpark.

Walk to the Richmond Bridge, then east along Wellington Street, to the start of the Richmond Park Track at Morgan Street. The track follows the northern boundary of Richmond Park, farmed since 1810. A linear strip of roadside trees beside the track provide protection for wildlife.

Sweeping views across the wide Coal River Valley reveal the impact of the South East Stage One Irrigation Scheme in developing agricultural enterprises in one of the driest regions in Tasmania.

The track climbs gently towards Brinktop Hill, crossing a quiet road to enter Brinktop Bushland Reserve. There is a circuit track in the reserve which reveals wider views across the Coal River Valley and to Richmond township.

The reserve contains remnant and endangered native vegetation. Signs along the track identify plants. Native animal tracks indicate that the reserve is the habitat of small mammals and invertebrates.

Clarence Council is to be commended for its maintenance of Richmond Park Track and interesting explanatory boards. A return walk is planned in spring to observe the seasonal changes to the native plants in the reserve.