FRIENDS OF USRC ENVIRONMENT

The USRC is a remarkable club, blessed with almost two hectares of park-like landscape inside urban Kowloon, a location that some social geographers describe as having the highest population densities per square kilometer in the world (around 28,000 + per Km²). The Club buildings and associated facilities of bowling green, tennis courts, swimming pools and car parks are beautifully integrated into a landscape of trees and shrubs to make a green oasis, within one of the most dynamic and exciting built landscapes to be found anywhere on planet Earth.

It is fashionable these days to talk of sustainability and ecological footprints. Objectively and scientifically speaking, the USRC helps significantly to mitigate the impacts of an ultra-urban environment. This green oasis is packed with trees and shrubs which, collectively, replenish and refresh Kowloon air, functioning as the 'lungs' of Jordan District. The large trees also mitigate the noise pollution from constant traffic. Many Hong Kong birds are also comfortable in this green retreat and attest to the importance of this man-managed ecosystem. Bulbuls (both Crested and Chinese). Laughing thrush, Tree sparrows, Crested Myna and Japanese White-eye are examples of such birds that like the USRC grounds.

To date around 50 different varieties of trees and shrubs have been identified on the USRC landscape. Some 23 of these have been signposted with bi-lingual (Chinese/English) name plaques: this is phase 1 of a plan to enhance these 'green assets' by making them more accessible to members and as a 'country' Parkland in an urban setting.

Phase 2 of the plan is currently underway with a top volunteer photographer, who also has landscape design qualifications (Ms Karen Hung) to assist Dr. Gordon S. Maxwell (formally of Open University of Hong Kong now a Visiting Professor to Hong Kong and several Regional Universities) in capturing the summer flowering of our USRC plants and to do the ground work before further naming. In addition, a handbook describing these green assets is included in the phase 2 plan. This will bring a hint of Hong Kong's striking and beautiful natural landscapes within touching distance for USRC members. In a sense, USRC members will have their own arboretum right here in Jordan. And this may inspire them to visit more distant Hong Kong green resources such as the Shing Mum Arboretum or the hills of Sai Kung East Country Park, as the beautiful bell-shaped red and white flowers 'Chung Kwok Lin Far' (in phonetic Cantonese) herald the start of Chinese New Year.

We have already named an outstanding Chinese Banyan tree, Ficus microcarpa. You can see, touch and admire this tough, vibrant, wildlife treasure and distinctive member of Fung Shui Woods right here at the USRC: visit and pause for a moment and imagine and Earth God shrine at the feet of this tree located beside the path between Squash Club and bowling greens!

Since the summer of 2003, phase 1 has been completed and this summer phase 2 is well advanced. In post-SARS Hong Kong, let's not forget the importance of our (USRC) green 'island' in a 'sea' of vertical concrete and glass. The fresh air around remains a health treasure. I am delighted to be able help the General Manager Noel Burns and his keen team to design scientific plans and procedures to further enhance these precious green resources that do so much to make the USRC a special place on the Kowloon Peninsula!

Dr. Gordon S. Maxwell, FLS
Life Member, Visiting Professor and
Director EcoMax Ecosystem Research
Centre, New Zealand
20-July, 2007