Long Valley Nature Park is the last remaining agricultural wetland in Hong Kong
A new nature park has opened this week in Hong Kong following a five-year development project.
Long Valley Nature Park is a 37-hectare wetland area in Hong Kong’s New Territories region, located between the Sheung Yue and Shek Sheung rivers. The wetland was originally formed by rice paddies and is today the last remaining agricultural wetland in Hong Kong.
Development of the park began in 2019, primarily to compensate for the loss of wetlands to construction around the nearby urban areas of Kwu Tong and Fanling. Abandoned farmland and ‘dry’ farmland such as banana plantations have been restored into wetland habitats, including wet farmlands, shallow ponds and marshes and irrigation channels to nurture wildlife and facilitate eco-friendly farming practices.
The project is already seeing positive impacts, with the numbers of endangered and critically endangered birds such as the yellow-breast bunting, the black-winged stilt and the black-faced spoonbill increasing significantly over the last few years.
The eco-friendly space is divided into three zones, a Biodiversity Zone for core conservation, an Agriculture Zone for environmentally sustainable farming and a Visitor Zone with facilities for visitors and educational activities such as birding huts, pavilions, boardwalks and a nature centre.
The opening of Long Valley follows the launch earlier this year of the 530-hectare Robins Nest country park. Plans have also been revealed for North Lantau Marine Park, Hong Kong’s largest marine park.
To reach Long Valley Nature Park, take the MTR to Sheung Shui or Yuen Long stations and then a minibus to Sheung Yue River. There is a second entrance at Yin Kong; take the MTR to Sheung Shui or Yuen Long stations and then a minibus to Yin Kong Road. There are currently no parking facilities. The park is open every day except for Tuesdays.
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