Residents looking to make the most of their Saturdays this May have a compelling option close to home: the verdant Nanmangalam forests, where trekking, birdwatching and nature trail experiences await. Organised by Chennai Snake Park Trust, the summer programme is designed to increase public awareness of the city’s rich natural resources.“The forest shelters a diversity of wildlife, including mongoose and numerous venomous and non-venomous snake species, alongside native trees, shrubs, plants and insects,” says S Paulraj, executive chairman of the Trust. “It also serves as a vital habitat for the great horned owl, a species virtually absent elsewhere in Chennai.”The Nanmangalam reserve forest, located 10 km east of Tambaram on the Tambaram-Velachery road, spreads across 320.9 hectares. Three hillocks occupy nearly half the habitat, harbouring dense scrubs, thorny shrubs and stragglers that dominate the vegetation. The remaining areas are plains covered with plantations, thickets and grasslands. More than 25 species of native trees have been planted here under the Tamil Nadu Afforestation Programme, including Nagamalli, Azhinjil, Veppaalai, Asoka, Eerkolli, Kaatu Punnai, Naatu Baadam, Kadukkai, Magizham, Iluppai and Thekku, says C Arivazhagan of the Trust.The forest also features five abandoned quarries and three ponds, where little cormorants, white-throated kingfishers, common kingfishers and pied kingfishers can be spotted. The half-day programme promises participants an immersive glimpse into this extraordinary biodiversity. Those joining are advised to bring cameras, binoculars, and umbrellas, and to wear sturdy shoes suitable for forest trails.The forest carries an interesting history. “During the late 1990s, it was used as a jungle warfare training range by the CRPF, with vehicles entering freely due to the absence of any boundary controls,” says a wildlife official. It was former Chennai forest officer V Subbiah who took the initiative to construct a periphery wall along the forest boundary, a move that proved decisive in protecting the reserve and keeping encroachers at bay.“City residents are keen to explore green escapes that offer a genuine connection with nature without venturing far from urban life,” says Paulraj. “There is potential to expand such initiatives further.”Creating facilities for overnight camping alongside trekking and birdwatching programmes, particularly during holidays, could significantly boost awareness and footfall, say officials. For more details, write to cspt1972@gmail.com
