ILLUSTRATED DICTIONARY OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN PLANT NAMES

You love plants but ... you don't know what their names mean.  We want to help you, AND perhaps you can help us? Hugh Clarke and Michael Charters have written an Illustrated Dictionary of Southern African Plant Names that takes the mystery out of plant names, containing nearly 5,000 entries. ‘Why do I like this book? Because they have produced an excellent volume full of useful and interesting information that anyone interested in botany will enjoy and find intriguing.’ Eugene Moll, Extraordinary Professor in the Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology at the University of…
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TOWARDS A MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR NZXT’S IN BETTY’S BAY

For years, Kogelberg branch has wanted to have a poster campaign in December to alert the people of Betty’s Bay to the threat of growing forests of NZXT’S - New Zealand Christmas trees (Metrosideros exelsa) in our village; forests which out-compete our incomparable fynbos treasures, drain our water from wetlands, and make areas impenetrable. We have our own trees to provide windbreaks, privacy, and shade. On the posters we suggest the Rooiels (Cunonia capensis) and Boekenhout (Rapanea melanophloeos); we can also add the Wild Peach (Kiggelaria africana).  Imagine our delight when SANBI (SA Biodiversity Institute)…
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UPCOMING EVENTS

Talks planned for 2016 17 January: Richard Starke will speak on his Scientific American cruise round Iceland and Norway. The photography will be superb. At 18h00 at Nivenia Hall, HPBG. 20 February: Sean Privett of Fynbos Trails will speak on the ecology of the Swartkrans Forest which is on the trail and is inland from Gansbaai. At 18h00 at Nivenia Hall, HPBG. 19 March: Keir Lynch of the Overberg Lowlands Conservation Trust will speak about Renosterveld and the work of the Trust. Harold Porter now has a Renosterveld garden. At 18h00 - Venue to be…
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EDWARD SILBERBAUER RETIRES FROM LEADING THE CHARGE

Merrilee Berrisford, Kogelberg Branch Chairman It was teatime at Round 633 of the Battle of Betty’s Bay when Edward Silberbauer announced his retirement as Convenor of the Betty’s Bay Hack Group. Edward has a very proud record of unswerving commitment to eradicating invasive aliens. For twenty-six years he has planned the location of each monthly hack, seen to the maintenance of the tools which he stored and most important of all, he has enthused a loyal band of hackers - an average of twenty-five per hack - some working monthly, the Wednesday regulars every week.…
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