Hills District Independent August 2020 #62 August 2020 | Page 18

OUT & ABOUT
a winter’s tail
with Ian Knowd,
Hawkesbury
Harvest
Mother Nature
is starting to stir
from her Winter
slumber. Blossom
is starting to show,
winter vegies are
in abundance, the
air is crisp and
the sun simply
warms rather than
scorching all it
bathes. It’s time
to plan a Winter
Warmer feast for
those you love and
care about. Make it a day-trip on the Trail
sourcing our local bounty, talking to our
producers, and seeing the seasonal beauty
of our region while you’re at it. Bring it all
home to delight those who join you ‘round
the table.
For the best winter vegies head down
to the Hawkesbury River at Richmond for
Riverview Produce. On the way, call into
Schofields’ Orchard for new season citrus
varieties and the makings of a hot citrus
pudding – farmgate is open Sunday to
Friday.
Now for something special from the
butchery. Head over to Wilberforce and
M&A Butchery for their extra-aged beef
cuts, gourmet sausages and pies, and
seeing you’re over that way, drop in to
Tizzana Winery and that special tipple
to compliment your feast.
Maybe you’d prefer an apple pie
to warm the heart? Head up to Bilpin
for the freshest in the district. While
you’re there drop into a cidery or two,
Bilpin Cider Co or Hillybilly Cider Shed
have some amazing non and alcoholic
varieties of the good stuff, and they do
great food too!
And then if you’re really keen to
impress with some local treasures, drop
into Kurrajong Australian Native Foods’
Bushtucker Shop at McGrath’s Hill for their
Wild Hibiscus in Syrup or Flower Extracts
to really jazz up your favourite tipple,
cocktail, or ice-cream dessert – magic!
Wanting to avoid the travel? Find the
best local and regional fare at Harvest’s
Castle Hill Farmers’ and Fine Food market
every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month
at Castle Hill Showground.
For more info go to www.
havesttrailsandmarkets.com.au.
HIDDEN IN THE HILLS
Coachwood
by Lachlan Turner
Readers will be forgiven for thinking
that the images accompanying this
article are of the NSW Christmas
Bush (Ceratopetalum gummiferum).
However, featured here is a close relative
known as Coachwood (Ceratopetalum
apelatum). They both grow in similar
conditions and are distributed largely
across the same regions along the entire
eastern coastal ranges of NSW.
Coachwood is a much taller
tree, up to 30m, with a thicker trunk,
which has a mottled pattern on
the bark while preferring a wetter
rainforest environment in which to
thrive. Flowering occurs over much
the same period for both species with
the calyces (flowers) commencing as
a creamy-white colour, progressing to
the familiar pinkish-red tones mostly
associated with Christmas Bush. Mature
Coachwood calyces, in many instances,
have a considerably darker shade of red,
with its larger leaves having a distinct
serration along the edges.
The timber from this tree was much
sought after as its characteristics of
being easily worked by hand tools,
as well as being able to be bent after
steaming, were most suitable in the
building of passenger coaches in the
1800s. During WW2 the timber was used
to manufacture rifle butts (stocks) due
to its close grain, which did not shatter
readily.
Also known as “Scented Satinwood”
due to the aroma that is emitted
when working the timber, it has been
extensively used in both the furniture
manufacturing and wood turning
industries. Some trees have been
found to be around 200 years old when
the growth rings of mature trees were
counted. This species is now regarded as
vulnerable due to the encroachment of
urbenisation into its habitat.
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18 ISSUE 62 // AUGUST 2020 www.hdinews.com.au THE HILLS INDEPENDENT