Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest

Swamp Oaks and Swamp Paperbarks dominate Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest (SOFF) in moist areas close to rivers and estuaries. Other species such as Lilly Pilly, Cheese Tree, Common Silkpod and Slender Knotwood thrive in SOFF. 

Swamp Oak Floodplain fact sheet

Local wildlife

These forests provide important wildlife corridors and winter feed trees for many mammals and birds, especially cockatoos. 

Visit the forest

SOFF has been threatened by land clearing, weeds, water pollution and changes to soil salinity. It has been estimated that less than 30 per cent of original coastal floodplain wetlands, including SOFF, now remain. Remaining patches within Ku-ring-gai and are found adjacent to Middle Harbour in East Killara, East Lindfield and Roseville Chase, the Lane Cover River at Lindfield and at Bobbin Head in North Turramurra.

What can you do?

There’s lots you can do to help preserve SOFF:

If you live near the forest, there’s even more you can do to help preserve it:

  • Plant some of the forest’s native species, such as Common Silkpod, Scrambling Lily and Snake Vine, in your garden. This will help attract birds, mammals and butterflies.
  • Be careful when mowing your lawn. Mowing underneath SOFF trees prevents seedlings from establishing. Hand weed or poison weeds instead.
  • Remove weeds from your own garden to stop them spreading into SOFF.
  • If you’re using greywater in your garden, use low phosphorus detergents.

More info

Contact us on 9424 0866 or email naturalareas@krg.nsw.gov.au.