AGULHAS THANK-YOU GIFT

– Merrilee Berrisford

Our expedition to the Agulhas National Park was a great success and to show our appreciation to the staff, especially Emmerentia de Kock, we collected a sum of money for a suitable gift.
What seemed most suitable was a collection of children’s books on the environment for the Park’s library; they have various programmes which are offered to local schools on visits to the Park. Ulla von der Heyden made the brilliant suggestion that her daughter-in-law, Prof Sophie von der Heyden of US (she has given a talk to the Branch) be asked to help; she has published a book about the seashore for children .

Well, Sophie did this in a very generous manner. First she donated two copies of her book, Southern African Sea Life – A Guide for Young Explorers, then she chose a collection of suitable books including two copies of Exploring Fynbos by Margot Branch and John Manning’s Field Guide to Fynbos. She bought them at a very good price and had them couriered to Agulhas. Emmerentia sent us a warm letter of thanks and said the books would be a great help with the start of the Kids in Parks programme beginning on 17 October.

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