WALK REPORT: SATURDAY 22 APRIL 2017

-Barbara Jenman

On 21 Feb this year a wildfire swept across Clarence Drive, raced towards Pringle Bay and consumed a substantial part of the fynbos of the Brodie Link, also known as the Hangklip Nature Reserve, damaging some homes in Pringle Bay and threatening many more.

We went to see what flora was emerging two months later. Maybe the little rainfall in the interim had helped. The surprise was evident. Fire resistant Mountain palmiet (Bergpalmiet), Tetraria thermalis, was still intact and erect. “They stood out in isolation in what looked like a wasteland,” says walker Dorrienne. Other delights awaited us: splashes of yellow Bobartia gladiata, intermittent pink Oxalis polyphylla and delicate purple Lobelia pinifolia.

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Rugged, fire resistant Bergpalmiet, Tetraria thermalis

Dorrienne remarks, “I do enjoy the walks … good exercise, good company and I always come away having learnt something.” I am sure all 14 walkers will agree.

Setting off from the Hangklip Nature Reserve entrance in Stream Road, Pringle Bay, under the guidance of Chris Geldenhuys, we were soon huffing and puffing our way up the steep path through an unburned section of the Hangklip Nature Reserve, inspecting some Ericas, identified by Tim Attwell as E. plukenetii and the more confusing E.discolor, a lone red Gladiolus carmineus and several pink frilly Tritoniopsis lata in all their glory.

Tritoniopsis lata
Tritoniopsis lata

The Bernard Brodie memorial plaque was a welcome refreshment stop with views of the surrounding Hangklip Nature Reserve.

Gladiolus carmineus
Gladiolus carmineus

Turning north, we topped the rise and descended into the fire ravaged area where Mountain palmiet (Bergpalmiet) Tetraria thermalis seemed to be the only survivors. Closer inspection revealed the Bobartia gladiata, Oxalis polyphylla and Lobelia pinifolia that promised better days.

Waiting for Spring, the fire ravaged northern slopes of the Hangklip Nature Reserve
Waiting for Spring, the fire ravaged northern slopes of the Hangklip Nature Reserve
Bobartia gladiata
Bobartia gladiata

Let’s not forget the invasive aliens! Chris Geldenhuys pointed out the area around the house at the start of the trail, belonging to the WWF-South Africa, where an extensive invasion of Rooikrans (Acacia cyclops) had been cleared by our intrepid Pringle Bay and Betty’s Bay Botsoc hackers, plus the pine forest growing on private land that they are soon going to tackle. Stirling work by our Pringle Bay and Betty’s Bay hackers!