by KBergReserve

YOUR ARTICLES AND CONTRIBUTIONS ARE WELCOME

The editor reserves the right to edit contributions. Deadline for the next newsletter is around 20 July 2016. (Please note the new Newsletter schedule – we need articles in the third week of each month for the following month’s newsletter.) Please address all mail to: Kogelberg Branch of the Botanical Society, PO Box 85, Betty’s Bay 7141 E-mail: peterb5424@gmail.com Editor’s e-mail:  b.attwell@mweb.co.za
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by KBergReserve

WHO REALLY BENEFITS FROM FEEDING GARDEN BIRDS?

Charles and Julia Botha Charles and Julia Botha are the authors of Bring Nature Back to your Garden and Bring Butterflies Back to your Garden. Both their books have won book prizes from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. With their kind permission, we reproduce an article written and adapted by them for Environment from one by the same authors entitled Food for thought; who benefits from feeding birds? Africa Birds & Birding, 2009, 14 (3) 36-41. The article appears in our Newsletter in three parts. Here is the second. Of all the horrors placed in gardens…
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by KBergReserve

APRIL WALK

Botsoc Kogelberg Walk Report: 16 April 2016 Tim Attwell It was an impromptu affair. Not the date, but the destination. Some feared it may be ill advised to tackle the stiff climb to the plateau above Fairy Glen in the Kleinmond Nature Reserve, considering that we had not issued dark warnings to all comers about the challenge it would represent. To their credit, none of the thirteen Botsoc members were fazed by the prospect, viewed from the car park, of toiling 200 vertical metres up the zig-zag Klipspringer path to the sun brightened expanse of…
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by KBergReserve

APRIL TALK

Andrea Benn “From Sheepfarm to National Botanical Garden” A talk by Eugene Marinus, Curator of the Hantam National Botanical Garden. Saturday 16 April. A talk that became the story of a man and this garden, beautifully illustrated with pictures. Eugene grew up in Kleinmond right here in our Kogelberg Biosphere. His first job was at Harold Porter digging trenches for irrigation systems. His interest in plants led him to enquire and study, moving through to plant displays and the nursery. He is now in his eighth year as Curator of our ninth National Botanical Garden.…
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by KBergReserve

HERMANUS FLOWER FESTIVAL

The Hermanus Flower Festival has been showcasing the wonders of Spring in the fynbos for over 60 years!  This year is no exception.  This special event will take place in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve from Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 September. Following the Fires in Fernkloof Nature Reserve in December, our theme for this year will be “Fynbos and Fire”. Join us to enjoy this flower spectacular, including fun, activities, teas and meals. Open from 9 am to 5 pm. Entry R20, children under 12 free. Contact Hermanus Botanical Society at botsochermanus@telkomsa.net.
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by KBergReserve

BOOKS FOR HPNBG

The Kogelberg Botsoc Branch has bought a number of books to give to Harold Porter NBG library using the money raised by Judy New’s “Travels in Peru” last November. On Tuesday 26 April, Judy presented the books to Bernie Carolus at HPNBG. Left to right:  Rose October, Librarian;  Bernie Carolus, Curator;  Judy New, fundraiser, and  Jane Forrester, Interpretive Officer at HPNBG
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by KBergReserve

SPRING EXPEDITION TO SEE RENOSTERVELD AND AGULHAS PLAIN LIMESTONE VEGETATION

Merrilee Berrisford Barbara Jenman, Andrea Benn and Merrilee and Peter Berrisford recently returned from a successful recce in preparation for the planned trip to the area beyond Bredasdorp, to wander through Renosterveld at the Haarwegskloof Renosterveld Reserve and also the limestone vegetation of the Agulhas Plain. The recce crew had good conversations with Emmarentia de Kock, the People and Conservation Officer at Agulhas National Park, and Jannie Groenewald of the Haarwegskloof Renosterveld Reserve. The group enjoyed a day out with Emmarentia in the limestone fynbos and the renosterveld of the National Park. Haarwegskloof near Napier…
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by KBergReserve

KOGELBERG GOES TO LONDON

Merrilee Berrisford The wonderful landscapes, plants and animals of the Kogelberg will be seen by tens of thousands of visitors to this year’s Chelsea Flower Show in May. The South African exhibit was formally launched at a function in the Conservatory at Kirstenbosch on 21 April. Exciting news for the villages of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve is that the twin themes are the Reserve and Harold Porter NBG. We’d had clues that Kogelberg would feature when designer David Davidson wanted a copy of our book, Your Place in the Kogelberg. It was a great surprise…
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by KBergReserve

WALKS PLANNED FOR 2016

As usual, we will hold our monthly walk on Saturday 14 May at the Hanneshoek Route in the Kleinmond Mountain Reserve. For those new to the Monthly walk, once a month we gather to explore breathtaking views and outstanding natural beauty. Every month there is a new guide, walking the route with us and telling us all about his/her stories. Bring sturdy footwear, a hat, sunblock, snacks and liquid refreshments (all necessary for a moderate walk). Also bring a long a field guide to fynbos and binoculars. To join the monthly walk we all meet…
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