Partingtons Flat and Escarpment (Greensborough)

The Greensborough Escarpment area is one of the most species diverse sites along Banyule's Plenty River. With nearby Partingtons Escarpment, they contain four different vegetation communities: escarpment woodland, 2 variations of cliff-escarpment shrubland and box-stringybark woodland.

Its 4.94 hectares form a crucial part of the Plenty River corridor, connecting Plenty Gorge to the Yarra River to the south. It gives local wildlife a safe corridor of vegetation, providing food and shelter. Within it there are many native wildflowers and orchids, some of which are of national and state significance. A range of wildlife species use the reserve, including wombats, echidnas and a variety of birds.

Activities in the park include walking trails and wildlife observation.

History

Charles Partington owned the land from the 1870s, and leased it to his brother-in-law Robert Whatmough, whose orchard received prizes for its produce. Many fruit trees remain, estimated to be 100-150 years old. The reserve was created in the 1950s when Heidelberg Council purchased 12 acres of land from the Partington family.

Flora and Fauna

The area conceals contains many remnant plants, including orchids, lilies and a range of pea wildflowers. The reserve is made up of 2 threatened vegetation communities; grassy dry forest/box-stringybark woodland (endangered within greater Melbourne) and herb-rich foothill forest (threatened within greater Melbourne).