Ryde Hunters Hill Flora and Fauna Preservation Society

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Ryde Hunters Hill Flora and Fauna Preservation Society The Society has been active in local conservation issues since 1966 and is well networked with the broader conservation movement across NSW.

In the mid 1960s, with an increasing amount of waste needing disposal, Ryde Council looked to an expansion of the small tip in the Field of Mars Reserve. Council proposed to pipe Buffalo and Stranger's Creeks to facilitate a landfill area to a depth of up to 15m feet which could then be re-developed into playing fields. Local residents united to form the Anti-tip Action Group and lobbied to reverse Council's plans for a tip at the Field of Mars. The tip was moved to Porter's Creek which to this day still requires substantial funds to control the environmental damage arising from past use as a tipsite. With the Field of Mars saved the Society was established in January 1966. In September 1966, Ryde Council advised the Society that it agreed to their proposal to development of the Field of Mars Reserve as a flora and fauna sanctuary. Hard work over following decades has seen restoration of old degraded areas of the Field of Mars and protection of the area as a Wildlife Refuge. A Visitors Centre was built and then the Environmental Education Centre which is visited by about 10,000 students each year.

SPIDERS TALKWould you like to know more about our eight-legged neighbours? Dr Helen Smith of the Australian Museum in Sy...
01/10/2026

SPIDERS TALK

Would you like to know more about our eight-legged neighbours? Dr Helen Smith of the Australian Museum in Sydney will give a talk on “Spiders of Northern Sydney” on Sunday 25 October at 2pm in the Environmental Education Centre, Field of Mars Reserve, East Ryde (main entrance: Pittwater Road). The talk is hosted by the Ryde – Hunters Hill Flora and Fauna Preservation Society, and will be followed by tea and coffee in the nearby Visitor Centre. Helen Smith has worked behind the scenes at the Museum since the mid 1990s, helping to look after one of the largest spider collections in the southern hemisphere. Her talk will cover common questions about spiders and a few myths and misconceptions. The talk will be illustrated by mainly local species.
Photo: Triangular Spider, Arkys lancearius, please ©Helen Smith CC–BY–NC.

Are you coming to the Field of Mars Reserve from 2pm this coming Sunday 20 September for Music on Mars? Organised by RHH...
14/09/2026

Are you coming to the Field of Mars Reserve from 2pm this coming Sunday 20 September for Music on Mars? Organised by RHHFFPS and supported by City of Ryde it promises to be a wonderful afternoon of entertainment for all. See below for more details.
This Eastern Water dragon will be watching and listening so why don't you?

I'll be at Music on Mars. See you there.
04/09/2026

I'll be at Music on Mars. See you there.

MUSIC ON MARS 2026YOU ARE INVITED TO MUSIC ON MARS 2026, an outdoor concert in a beautiful setting, at 2pm, SUNDAY 20 SE...
04/09/2026

MUSIC ON MARS 2026
YOU ARE INVITED TO MUSIC ON MARS 2026, an outdoor concert in a beautiful setting, at 2pm, SUNDAY 20 SEPTEMBER
at the Visitor Centre, Field of Mars Reserve, East Ryde
(main entry: Pittwater Road),
or, in bad weather, at the adjacent Environmental Education Centre,
hosted by the Ryde – Hunters Hill Flora and Fauna Preservation Society and generously supported by Ryde City Council.
ENTRY FREE, but donations welcome. Info: 04o3 749 181.

The program includes:
“What Does the Rabbit Look Like?”, a short musical,(executive producer: Chloe Hwang); Folk, Country and Acoustic with Ineke Olive;
Empowering Women Through Music, Culture and Community, AvaZan;
“The Hidden Landscape”: Stories and Poetry with John August;
The Macquarie Singers with excerpts from Jenkins’ “Stella Natalis”.

From about 2.30pm there will be separate supervised activities for children based on the musical.

IS SYDNEY BASIN BUSHLAND ABLE TO COPE? A TALK BY JOHN MARTYNOn Saturday 18 April at 2pm the environmentalist, geologist ...
27/03/2026

IS SYDNEY BASIN BUSHLAND ABLE TO COPE? A TALK BY JOHN MARTYN

On Saturday 18 April at 2pm the environmentalist, geologist and photographer John Martyn will speak on “Bushfires, Storms and Floods 2019-2023: How Sydney Basin Bushland has Coped”. John Martyn’s published books include the Field Guide to the Bushland of the Lane Cove Valley and the The Geology and Flora of the Sydney Basin. The talk is hosted by the Ryde – Hunters Hill Flora and Fauna Preservation Society, in the Environmental Education Centre, Field of Mars Reserve (main entrance: Pittwater Road, East Ryde). It will be followed by Q&A and then afternoon tea in the nearby Visitor Centre.
A free event – but small donations are always welcome. For further info please phone Alfred on 9879 6067.

Address

PO Box 552 Gladesville NSW 1675
East Ryde, NSW
2111

Opening Hours

Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

Contact Cathy on 02 9817 4935

Website

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