TV show spruik brings big numbers to rare forest, sparking concerns about environmental damage

AN UPSURGE in visitors to a redwood forest in Melbourne’s east has caused problems with rubbish and other damage, locals say.

Warburton artist David Digapony with his Wild and Woven work in the redwood forest. Picture: supplied

A RARE redwood forest on the outskirts of the Yarra Valley is fast becoming a tourist drawcard, leading to calls for better protection.

Tourists flocked to the Redwood Forest, nine kilometres outside Warburton, after a TV program featured the region in April.

Since then, locals have taken to social media to urge visitors to respect the natural environment.

Melbourne photographer Matt Lawson took to social media recently, urging those who visited the forest to take their rubbish with them.

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Others were worried about increased foot traffic, rubbish and the state of the unsealed access road.

Shannon Broome commented: “When I went there in April, there were so many people walking through. There was rubbish, mushrooms had been kicked and trampled on. If you can’t respect nature, stay away.”

Jo Jones said the bags of dog poo left at the gate of the forest were disgusting.

The forest, set in the Yarra Ranges National Park, started out as an experiment in the 1930s.

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The Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works planted non-native trees, most notably Californian redwoods, as part of a research program. The program was later abandoned, leaving behind a picturesque forest.

For the past few years Warburton artist David Digapony has installed his ephemeral art in the forest, which has added to the region’s appeal.

“Most people who go there are blown away by how amazing the place is, how beautiful it is and how sacred it is — it’s like a cathedral among the redwood,” Digapony said.

He said he hadn’t noted rubbish but the unsealed, single lane access road to the forest did get “cut up” in wet conditions due to the large volume of traffic.

Yarra Ranges Council recently completed upgrade works to a bridge on Cement Creek Rd but councillor Jim Child wouldn’t comment about the possibility of further upgrades to the road in the future.

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He said council would need to work with Parks Victoria to address other issues regarding the forest as the site became more popular in the future.

Parks Victoria Yarra Ranges area chief Conrad Annal said there had been no reports of increased littering, but visitors should not leave rubbish behind.

“It was recently featured on Better Homes and Gardens (April 22) which has encouraged more people to visit this beautiful area,” Mr Annal said.

“Any increase in visitation to the Warburton valley is helping support the Warburton tourism industry, which helps put money back into the community.”