Country Parks Hiking and Planting Day 2024

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) will organise Hiking and Planting Day in collaboration with Friends of the Country Parks on three Sundays in March and April 2024. Public are welcome to join the activities.

Enrolment:

Participants are required to arrive at the registration point between 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on the activity day for registration. Walk-in enrolment is on a first-come-first-served basis due to site constraints. The activity is free of charge. AFCD will provide seedlings and planting tools for participants

Protect Our Countryside, Take Your Litter Home:

To maintain the naturalness of our countryside, remember to reduce waste, reuse and recycle materials, and Take your Litter Home during the hiking and planting day activity. These simple habits can make a great contribution to the natural environment.

Hiking Etiquette

Green Tips

Details:

Date	10 March 2024 (Sunday)	17 March 2024 (Sunday)	14 April 2024 (Sunday)
Planting Location	Pat Sin Leng Nature Trail, Pat Sin Leng Country Park	Wong Nai Tun Irrigation Reservoir, Tai Lam Country Park	Luk Chau Shan, Ma On Shan Country Park
General Description	Start from Bride's Pool, walk uphill for 25 minutes to reach the planting site. After tree planting, participants may continue the route from the site to Tai Mei Tuk, which will take about 2 hours. Hikers can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Wu Kau Tang and Plover Cove Reservoir along the trail. Please note hikers would encounter rugged slopes in some sections.	Start from Yeung Ka Tsuen, Yuen Long and walk uphill for about 50 minutes to reach the planting site. Along the way, participants can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Wong Nai Tun Irrigation Reservoir. After tree planting, participants can hike along the MacLehose Trail Section 10 to the Tai Lam Reservoir Islands viewpoint and overlook the panoramic view of Thousand-island Lake.	Start from Yiu On Estate, Ma On Shan or Heng On MTR Station and walk along Ma On Shan Road roundabout to Ma On Shan Tsuen Road (Leung Yau Road) for about 90 minutes. Participants would arrive the Ma On Shan Barbecue Area in Ma On Shan Country Park. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the tree planting site via Ma On Shan Village. Participants can enjoy the view of Tolo Harbour, Tai Po Waterfront Park, Science Park, Sam Mun Tsai and Ma On Shan at the planting site.

Map	Download	Download	Download
Registration Point	Near Bride's Pool Bus Stop, Pat Sin Leng Country Park	Wong Nai Tun Irrigation Reservoir	Ma On Shan Barbecue Area, Ma On Shan Country Park
Distance	Approximate 4 km (single trip)	Approximate 6 km (single trip)	Approximate 10 km (Return trip)
Hiking Time	Approximate 2 hours (single trip)	Approximate 3 hours (single trip)	Approximate 5 hours (Return trip)
Overall Difficulty	★★☆☆☆(Moderate)	★★☆☆☆(Moderate)	★★★☆☆(Demanding)
Transportation	KMB Bus Bus No. 275R (Sundays and Public Holidays only) Tai Po Market Station - Wu Kau Tang Green Minibus Minibus No. 20R Tai Po Market Station - Wu Kau Tang (Please get off at Bride's Pool.)	MTR Bus Bus No. K66 (Mondays to Sundays and Public Holidays) Long Ping - Wong Nai Tun Tsuen) Red Minibus Yuen Long (Hung Min Court) – Tai Tong (Wong Nai Tun Tsuen)	KMB and CityBus Bus No. 40X、43X、81C、85K、85M、85X、86C、86K、86S、87D、87K、89C、89D、89S、97、286C、274、281X、286C、286M、287D、680、680X、681、682、980X、988 Ma On Shan Town – walking to Ma On Shan Barbecue Area, Ma On Shan Country Park MTR Heng On MTR Station Exit B – walking to Ma On Shan Barbecue Area, Ma On Shan Country Park Green Minibus Minibus No. 807A, 810 (Please get off at Vista Paradiso – walking to Ma On Shan Barbecue Area, Ma On Shan Country Park)


Date	10 March 2024 (Sunday)
Planting Location	Pat Sin Leng Nature Trail, Pat Sin Leng Country Park
General Description	Start from Bride's Pool, walk uphill for 25 minutes to reach the planting site. After tree planting, participants may continue the route from the site to Tai Mei Tuk, which will take about 2 hours. Hikers can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Wu Kau Tang and Plover Cove Reservoir along the trail. Please note hikers would encounter rugged slopes in some sections.
Map	Download
Registration Point	Near Bride's Pool Bus Stop, Pat Sin Leng Country Park
Distance	Approximate 4 km (single trip)
Hiking Time	Approximate 2 hours (single trip)
Overall Difficulty	★★☆☆☆(Moderate)
Transportation	KMB Bus Bus No. 275R (Sundays and Public Holidays only) Tai Po Market Station - Wu Kau Tang Green Minibus Minibus No. 20R Tai Po Market Station - Wu Kau Tang (Please get off at Bride's Pool.)


Date	17 March 2024 (Sunday)
Planting Location	Wong Nai Tun Irrigation Reservoir, Tai Lam Country Park
General Description	Start from Yeung Ka Tsuen, Yuen Long and walk uphill for about 50 minutes to reach the planting site. Along the way, participants can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Wong Nai Tun Irrigation Reservoir. After tree planting, participants can hike along the MacLehose Trail Section 10 to the Tai Lam Reservoir Islands viewpoint and overlook the panoramic view of Thousand-island Lake.
Map	Download
Registration Point	Wong Nai Tun Irrigation Reservoir
Distance	Approximate 6 km (single trip)
Hiking Time	Approximate 3 hours (single trip)
Overall Difficulty	★★☆☆☆(Moderate)
Transportation	MTR Bus Bus No. K66 (Mondays to Sundays and Public Holidays) Long Ping - Wong Nai Tun Tsuen) Red Minibus Yuen Long (Hung Min Court) – Tai Tong (Wong Nai Tun Tsuen)


Date	14 April 2024 (Sunday)
Planting Location	Luk Chau Shan, Ma On Shan Country Park
General Description	Start from Yiu On Estate, Ma On Shan or Heng On MTR Station and walk along Ma On Shan Road roundabout to Ma On Shan Tsuen Road (Leung Yau Road) for about 90 minutes. Participants would arrive the Ma On Shan Barbecue Area in Ma On Shan Country Park. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the tree planting site via Ma On Shan Village. Participants can enjoy the view of Tolo Harbour, Tai Po Waterfront Park, Science Park, Sam Mun Tsai and Ma On Shan at the planting site.
Map	Download
Registration Point	Ma On Shan Barbecue Area, Ma On Shan Country Park
Distance	Approximate 10 km (Return trip)
Hiking Time	Approximate 5 hours (Return trip)
Overall Difficulty	★★★☆☆(Demanding)
Transportation	KMB and CityBus Bus No. 40X、43X、81C、85K、85M、85X、86C、86K、86S、87D、87K、89C、89D、89S、97、286C、274、281X、286C、286M、287D、680、680X、681、682、980X、988 Ma On Shan Town – walking to Ma On Shan Barbecue Area, Ma On Shan Country Park MTR Heng On MTR Station Exit B – walking to Ma On Shan Barbecue Area, Ma On Shan Country Park Green Minibus Minibus No. 807A, 810 (Please get off at Vista Paradiso – walking to Ma On Shan Barbecue Area, Ma On Shan Country Park)

Points to note:

The difficulty levels, hiking distance and time are provided for reference only.
Planting sites are located at mountain areas; participants can only reach the sites on foot.
Participants should consider their physical strength and hiking experience, and decide whether they are suitable to take part in the activities.
Participants should wear suitable outfit, shoes, socks and bring along their own packed lunch, adequate water, personal hiking equipment, sun block and rain gear.
The event will be cancelled without prior notice if any tropical cyclone, rainstorm or thunderstorm warning is hoisted at 7:00 a.m. on the activity day.
Please click here for safety hints of hiking.
Visit our website or Facebook Page for the arrangement of the activities.

Declarations from Organiser:

The activity is provided for voluntary participation. The organiser has tried its best to plan and organise a safe hiking activity. Participants shall take part in the activities according to their own physical fitness. All participants are responsible for their own safety and should make sure that they are physically fit to finish the entire route. The organiser shall not be held responsible for any accident due to the participants' own negligence or lack of physical fitness. Participants may take out their own insurance policy if so desired.

FAQ	Steps of Tree Planting

Tree Planting FAQ:

1. How can I register for the "Hiking and Planting Day"?

Pre-registration is not required. Participants are required to arrive at the registration point between 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on the activity day for registration. Walk-in enrolment is on a first-come-first-served basis due to site constraints. Please visit our website for the details of the registration points of the activities: https://www.natureintouch.gov.hk/en/hikingandplanting2024

2. Is the "Hiking and Planting Day" free of charge?

The activity is free of charge. All seedlings and tree planting tools are provided by the AFCD.

3. What else do I have to prepare for the "Hiking and Planting Day"?

Get enough rest the night before the activity. On the activity day, make sure you have suitable clothing, socks and shoes. Prepare enough food and water, hiking equipment, sunscreen and rain gear. Bring along your own bags for carrying the seedlings to the planting site, if needed.

4. Will the organisers provide gloves for the participants on the activity day?

We will not provide gloves. Participants are suggested bringing their own reusable ones, if needed.

5. I know nothing about tree planting. Will the organisers provide any guidance?

Our staff or Country Parks Volunteers will provide guidance at the planting site.

6. Is there any age limit for participants to take part in the "Hiking and Planting Day"?

There is no restriction on age for participants to take part in the activities. However, participants should consider their physical ability and hiking experience and decide whether they are suitable to take part in the activities.

7. Will there be tree planting activities exclusively for groups / organisations / schools?

Due to limited tree planting sites, tree planting activities organised by AFCD will be opened to the public only. Members from different groups, organisations or schools can participate in the "Hiking and Planting Day" individually.

8. Is it possible for groups / organisations / schools to pre-register or reserve seedlings if they wish to participate in the "Hiking and Planting Day"?

We do not accept pre-registration and no seedlings will be reserved for any participants. Due to limited planting sites, all seedlings are distributed on a first-come-first-served basis while stocks last. If all seedlings are given out, participants are welcome to go hiking.

9. Will the tree planting activity be called off on a rainy day?

The "Hiking and Planting Day" will be continued on a rainy day unless any tropical cyclone, rainstorm or thunderstorm warning is issued by the Hong Kong Observatory. However, participants should make their own decision whether or not to continue the activity according to the actual situation and their physical ability.

10. Will the tree planting activity be called off because of adverse weather?

If Thunderstorm Warning, any Rainstorm Warning or Tropical Cyclone Warning is hoisted at 7:00 a.m. on the activity day, the activity will be cancelled.