Nature Walk (Powder Mills)

Powder Mills Nature Walk, Pamplemousses

The Powder Mills Forest is located next to the SSRN Hospital in the Pamplemousses neighbourhood. This area was given the name of Powder Mills (or "Moulin à Poudre") when the French occupation moved the cannon manufacture from Baie aux Tortues to this area in 1774. 

The Forestry Service oversees management of the area, which is home to several economically valuable species, including Araucaria, Mahogany, Teak, and Tecoma. In addition to serving the environment and society, this forest is linked to historical occurrences and has surviving ruins of old structures and monuments. 

In 2006, the Forestry Service decided to initiate the Powder Mills Nature Walk initiative to raise public awareness and support inland ecotourism. This project was part of the National Forest Policy's overall goal and encompasses an area of more than 60 hectares of forest, adorned with numerous attractive plants and uncommon and rare native flora. 

Visitors can take advantage of the different amenities that have been set up as part of the project to offer recreation and relaxation. 

Included in the Nature Walk are: 

1. • A centre for interpretation for visitors.

2. • An Indigenous/Endemic Garden

3. • A 3-km long network of nature trails. 

4. • Picnic areas and kiosks. 

5. • Water features. 

6. • A forest nursery offering native and decorative plants for sale.