The impact of drought glaringly obvious as I left my car to set off for a walk at John Forest National Park. With last winter not bringing enough rain, and no rain to speak of for the past six months the devastation on the bushland is beyond upsetting.
By this time of the year, the bushland is normally coming alive as life begins to revive after the summer. Typically, flowers would be gracing the landscape with a beautiful burst of colour as the dormancy of summer is over and the plants begin to revive for the lush winter months.
My mood was one of sadness as I wandered the dusty tracks, what little water remained was stagnant and if this dry spell keeps up it too will disappear altogether.
The canopies also showed signs of stress, with many of the towering gums dying, to see these graceful beauties bare branched was evidence of how catastrophic the summer has been.
One lone kangaroo was seen as I returned to my car, his forlorn look made my heart sink, no succulent blades of grass for him to nibble on, in fact there was barely any food for the bushland creatures.
With no rain on the horizon for the next week things are only going to get worse.
The feeling of loss and despair enveloped me as I left the forest and headed for home...
