The Trestle Bridge and Boardwalk

A Shady Rest Stop

Near the Buxton Bird Marsh, guests will find a large wooden footbridge tucked into the woods and spanning a ravine. This structure is Bloedel Reserve’s Trestle Bridge. A graceful curving structure, it offers guests a shady place to rest with a view of a small stream and lush green forest vegetation.

Construction of the trestle bridge started in 1992. Back then, as now, the only vehicular access to the area was by the dirt and gravel road running between the Sheep Sheds and the Bird Marsh. Unfortunately, this road can not support heavy machinery such as cranes. As a result, the Trestle Bridge was built entirely without the use of heavy machinery.

Strong and Sturdy

Despite the lack of machinery used in its construction, the bridge is very strong and able to support the utility vehicles used by the grounds and facilities staff. The wooden planks and pilings are made of Douglas fir. The handrails are jarrah, a dark wood from the Eucalyptus marginata, a tree native to southwestern Australia.

Underneath the bridge, hidden from view, are stout beams supporting the bridge planks. These beams rest on concrete pilings. The bridge is held together by large metal bolts and hardware.

The Boardwalk

The Boardwalk’s intimate closeness to the dark, rich soil, black water and abundant vegetation of the bog invites visitors to appreciate an ecosystem that would be otherwise impassable. Its simple wooden design interacts seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.