Gums Loop Meadow is the namesake of Gums Loop Walk, with eucalyptus and pine trees gracing its vicinity. Planted during the 1970s, these exotics, adorn what was once farmland—a meadow where horses roamed. The decision to plant eucalyptus here, might have aimed to restore a wet region prone to becoming swampy during heavy rainfall.
Presently, if you venture beyond the grass meadow and delve into the adjacent eucalyptus forest, you’ll encounter remnants of the original fences that once marked distinct fields and plots, echoing the area’s farming past. These were constructed in the early 1980s and have been enveloped by forest, some still in remarkable condition. There is also a wetlands area located here and behind are remnants of an old farm track that can still be seen if you know what to look for. Whether it is part of the same track or not, a firebreak existed on the eastern side of Nikau Creek for some distance. While nature has reclaimed this area, you can still walk through here as it is a relatively flat plateau and the forest is not too thick.
In the 2010s, a significant number of pine trees in the meadow and its surroundings were cut down to prevent the meadow from transforming into a dense forest.
Special thanks to Jeremy Foster for some information in this article.
