33rd Tree Appreciation Walk in Stream Trail of SGNP, Mumbai

33rd Tree Appreciation Walk in Stream Trail of SGNP, Mumbai on 9th Dec,12: We take you along through the year long journey of Walks in the Gardens, Parks & Forest…….unfolding so many secrets & magic…

In the months of Magh& Phaguna (Jan 20th to March20th ) of Shishir ritu, we strolled through the beautiful gardens of Rani Bagh, Five Gardens & Sagar Upava………admired the old majestic trees, tasted Mahua flowers and wondered who planted Amhertia nobilis in Rani Bagh…..

During Chaitra & Vaisakha (March 20th to May20th) the months of Vasant ritu, we admired the fashion parade of flowers of Heritage& Lake View Gardens of Hiranadani Gardens……….the presence & discovery of American Oil Palm which has its large leaves emerging 1^st from the earth then the stem & others unique Palms…. culminated in Palm Walk there……..

Comes the most dreaded months of Jyeshtha & Ashaadha ( May20th to July20th) the Grishma ritu……..to remind all of us that the Health is Wealth and prevention is better than cure, we checked out the medicinal properties of Herbs, shrubs & climbers in MNP, exchanged tips for good health & vowed not to indulge in excess……

Then the most awaited months of Shraavan & Bhadrapad (July 20th to Sep 20th) Varsha ritu….rain drenched us all……..with renewed vigor& enthusiasm we took Walks in the forest………Sanjay Gandhi National Park became our focal point…….we kept on discovering & sharing new nooks & corners…….WILD became the key word……wild herbs, wild vegetables, wild flowers, wild grass……..Silonda, Malad & Bamboo Trails gave us a glimpse of Western Ghats right in the city of maddening crowd……..so much to see, so much to learn but so less time……..

Now the time came for, to sit quietly and listen to the falling leaves…..Ashwin & Katik months (Sep 20^th to Nov 20th) Sharad ritu……. A small hillock, lost in the middle of Kanheri Caves…….we climbed up slowly absorbing the changing color of forest from green to gold……..& felt the wind rising & the air was wild with the falling leave..…..Telling the coming of the bonfire days……….

Hemant ritu – Margashirsh & Pausha months (Nov 20th to Jan 20th) is time to take a walk in the forest to admire the winter’s flora and counts the dew drops on them……..as William Shakespeare has quoted..

‘I must go seek some dewdrops here, and hang a pearl in every cowslip’s ear”

This is exactly we plan to do in our next Tree Appreciation Walk in Stream Trail……. Please join us there for the Walk in SGNP, Mumbai on 9^th Dec,12 ……details are as under….

The 33rd walk is on Sunday 9^th Dec, 2012                 

Venue: Stream Trail, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali

Time: 7.30

Duration of walk: 2 hours

Meeting Point: SGNP’s gate near the ticket window.

Very Important : Please Don’t be late……..the entrance to this trail is well camouflaged in bushes& shrubs, it will be very difficult to locate us once we leave for the Stream trail.

Most Important: Stream trail is not in restricted area and but still we have to take permission to conduct the walk there. Vehicles will be parked at Stream Trail which has a small open area to park cars. Stream Trail is about 500 meters before the Kanheri Caves.

We are trying to arrange for a vehicle to take people to Stream Trail from the gate……its necessary for us to know the number of people to be taken by jeep, so please register your name with us if you want go by jeep.

Please pay your entrance charges at the gate……..also one has to give Rs.70/- to us which have to be paid to Forest department at NIC……..Rs.50/- to NIC and Rs.20/- for the guard.

And as you all are aware that in forest we have to follow certain Do’s & Don’ts……..Here are some….

a) Please wear dull cloths only……preferably dark green, brown, black.

b) No plastics bags or wrappers…..carry food or snacks in boxes which you carry back home.

c) carry Odomos or any mosquito repellent

f) Wear good Walking shoes….the terrain is rocky at some places & uneven.

Park gate opens at 7.30 am.

List of the trees which we are planning to show is attached herewith.

Few pictures taken some days back on the Stream Trail can be seen on the mentioned link…..

https://plus.google.com/photos/102100535433279033845/albums/5816175863296318369?authkey=CPiQjcy98P2DkwE