We are tagging along with the Manly Dam MTB Trail Crew Maintenance day on Sunday 16 March
As mountain bikers, runners, hikers we can all easily play a part in keeping the trails around Manly beautiful, and care for the area's wildlife and natural habitats, simply by removing the single-use pollution (stuff like plastic bags and food wrappers) we see on the trails we love, and encourage others to do the same.
Trash Free Trails Manly (ManlyTrails.org) is a social group of people who use the trails of Manly Dam, North Head, The Spit and surrounding areas for active recreation like mountain biking, trail running, hiking, dog walking, rogaining and more.
Whatever we do and no matter how we think our trails should and could be used, we share a simple philosophy: to protect our playground by reducing and removing single-use pollution from our precious pocket of wilderness.
We do this as part of our regular trail usage as well as tagging along with official events (like trail maintenance session and races).
Trash Free Trails Manly is one of Australia's first community hubs for Trash Free Trails – an international organisation that exists to protect trails and the wild places they take us.
Leveraging the assets and framework that Trash Free Trails has established in the UK and collaborating with local trail builders, trail fairies, retailers, coaches, clubs, local government and events, our goal is to establish ‘Trash Free Trails’ as a shared single-minded single-use pollution removal and reduction message with as many trail users as possible.
Learn more about Trash Free Trails →
.jpg)
The research from the UK tells us that when people see these three simple words "Trash Free Trails" it creates a powerful neural nudge!
They consciously or subconsciously register that the trails they are on should be free of trash like single-use pollution, so they are:
Trash Free Trails Manly is a social group and picking up and removing single-use pollution is entirely at your own risk.
Please take necessary precautions, looking out for hazards that may include leeches, spiders, snakes, dogs, golf balls, broken glass, asbestos and other good stuff!
If you see single-use pollution that needs moving, but you don't want to be the one to move it just drop us a note and one of the collective crew will figure out what to. But that doesn't mean you can go dump 3kgs of prawn heads in the Dam on Boxing Day and have us go clear it up!
.jpg)
Spectacular walking and riding trails around North Head's historic fort and the Quarantine Station.
A beautiful walking / running track that runs west from Manly, climbing up to Tanya Park then dropping to Clontarf and on to the Spit Bridge.
Zoomed out map that shows Manly Dam to the North West, North Head to the south East and The Spit walkk to the west of Manlt itself.
Sydney’s Northern Beaches are best known for their beautiful sand, surf and sunshine. But the area is also home to some of Australia’s most popular trails, including Manly Dam. Just 15kms from the centre of Australia’s largest city, Manly Dam is one of our most accessible trail networks popular with mountain bikers, trail runners, adventure racers, hikers and dog walkers. Covering over 375 hectares, the Manly Dam reserve includes a 30 hectare dam reservoir.
The Manly Warringah War Memorial State Park, commonly called Manly Dam, holds a significant place in local history as a living memorial to those who served in the First World War and subsequent conflicts.
The park's establishment was conceived as a way to honour the sacrifices of servicemen and women, providing a lasting tribute that would benefit the community for generations. The creation of the park involved extensive community effort and fundraising, with the intention of creating a recreational space that would also serve as a place for reflection and remembrance.
The dam itself, and the surrounding parklands, became a symbol of resilience and community spirit, reflecting the qualities displayed by those who served.
By preserving the natural beauty of the area, the park acts as a constant reminder of the sacrifices made, allowing visitors to connect with nature and contemplate the importance of peace and remembrance. The park's official name explicitly links it to the war memorial tradition, ensuring that the connection between the natural environment and the memory of service personnel remains a vital part of its identity.
"The Manly Dam bushland region is home to at least six threatened mammal species, including the eastern pygmy possum, a recent diversity survey found. It also hosts the critically endangered Seaforth mintbush among 1,120 plant species, and the endangered Duffys Forest ecological community."
The Guardian, 11 February 2024
The park's diverse vegetation communities, including Sydney Sandstone Ridgetop Woodland, Coastal Sandstone Heath, and the endangered Duffy's Forest Ecological Community, support over 300 recorded plant species, including a stunning array of native orchids.
Notably, the park provides refuge for threatened plant species like the Seaforth Mintbush.
The park's ecological wealth extends to its diverse animal inhabitants.
Over 80 bird species grace the skies, while mammals such as brushtail and ringtail possums, long-nosed bandicoots, and short-beaked echidnas roam the undergrowth.
Reptiles, including eastern blue-tongue lizards, eastern water dragons, and lace monitors, are common sights, and a variety of snake species also reside within the park.
Amphibians, such as the threatened red-crowned toadlet, thrive in the park's riparian areas.
The dam itself and its surrounding waterways are home to eastern long-necked turtles and a variety of fish, including the unique climbing galaxias. This rich biodiversity makes Manly Dam a vital ecological sanctuary, providing a glimpse into the natural heritage of the region.
Pollution events continue to occur and rubbish continues to find its way into the park, onto the trails and into the waterways, negatively impacting natural habitats and wildlife in the area.
From a conservation point of view, The Manly Dam Biodiversity Project is on a mission to keep Manly Dam wild by conserving the area's irreplaceable natural wonders and protecting them from local extinction.
From a recreational point of view TrailCare and Manly Dam MTB Trail Crew are working closely with council to develop safe and sustainable mountain bike trails.
Manly Dam Collective is just a social group connected by a desire to protect Manly Dam by ensuring that our trails remain trash free trails, but we're always up for collaborating with other user groups, organisations and events. This includes promoting the Trash Free Trails message with members and helping out at events.
If you love Manly Dam trails like we do, then we'd love to chat about how we can help you to incorporate the Trash Free Trails philosophy, learnings and resources into your activities!
Got a question? Seen some serious trash on a trail in Manly Dam or the surrounding area? Want to talk about Trash Free Trails?Let us know:
The Manly Trails are on the land of the Gayemagal people.
ManlyTrails.org acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the Elders past and present.