Hancock Street Park and Microforest

Located in Rangeville, Toowoomba, Hancock Street Park is surrounded by urban development but offers locals and visitors an opportunity to connect with nature. The park is just over 3.7 hectares and contains bushland vegetation of significant environmental value. In 2016 the Friends of the Escarpment Parks (FEP) started working with Council to eradicate weeds and regenerate native vegetation. The group meets there weekly on Thursday mornings and are always happy to welcome new members. The park has a network of bushwalking trails connecting its four entrances - Hancock Street, Pelican Drive, Fairview Close and Leith Crescent. https://www.tr.qld.gov.au/component/edocman/facilityrecreation/sportrecreation/hancock-park-walking-trail-map?Itemid= Walking trails Hancock Street Park Source: Toowoomba Regional Council

Friends of the Escarpment Park (FEP) have been successful in obtaining funding from the Qld Government and the Toowoomba Regional Council to develop a Microforest on a 580sqm grassed parcel of land. The land is managed by Toowoomba Regional Council and is adjacent to Hancock Street Park. The project will follow the Miyawaki method of microforest creation. This is dense planting of endemic plants which make up a local ecosytem. More than 1000 Microforests have been created around the world. Those involved include: Friends of Escarpment Park (FEP) volunteers, volunteers from the community, Crows Nest Community Nursery, Toowoomba Regional Council and the Qld Government. Planting will consist of 1740 tubestock, representing the same indigenous species and plant communities as Hancock Street Park - an area of dry rainforest. The Miyawaki method results in the rapid creation of forest ecosystems, reportedly 10 times faster growth than conventional planting approaches. For further informa