PRINGLE BAY HACK REPORT N0 124

– Chris Geldenhuys, Convenor

After the initial rain, not more than 7mm in Pringle Bay, it was a wonderful crisp winter’s morning when the Pringle Bay the Hack Group gathered at Droster’s Centre on 28 May 2017. We still had an obligation to plot 728 and a well-motivated group moved to the intersection of Barbara and Bobby roads in Pringle Bay. The infestation this time was mainly Rooikrantz, but the coppicing slowed the progress. There is only one way to address a challenge like this – on your knees!

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With great determination we managed to break the camel’s back and cleared the plot right up to the ridge between Bobby and Buffels roads. Everybody agreed that we had cleared a vast area of Rooikrantz, but luckily there is still a lot of natural vegetation, Bito and Taaibos, left on the ridge. So the danger of any wind erosion is slim.

The hack group encountered a number of birds’ nests, but as the breeding season had already passed, the nests were abandoned. So no serious damage done! Some of the hackers came across chameleons in the bush. (Can anyone identify the one on the photo?) It is obvious that the members of the hack are becoming increasingly observant, which is a good thing. By observing the beauty in nature and taking notice of the abundance of living creatures among us, we become more aware of what needs to be preserved and protected!

Can you identify the chameleon?

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The following 23 members performed the hack: John Whitehead, Ed Silberbauer, Louw and Karen Toerien and Freddie, Marita Grobbelaar, Charles Hector, Tom Dreyer, Neil and Penny Berens, Andree Henning, Pieter Snyman, Chris Cadman, Richard Smeda, Willem Stigling, Robert Schaefer, Mike and Ilse Meyer, Natalie van Wulven, Jeannie Harning, Mike Begley, Ulli Niemann, together with Chris Geldenhuys. Thank you for everyone’s valuable contribution!

A special word of thanks for the contribution and support provided by the members of the Betty’s Bay Hack to the Pringle Bay Hack. Their efforts and encouragement are, as always, greatly appreciated.

Dave and Helena Muirhead provided the ever necessary mid-morning refreshments! Thank you for all the arrangements! Again a special word of thanks to Peter and Joyce of the Mini Mark for the generous donation of the tea and sandwiches for the Hack Group, it was as always greatly appreciated by all. It will be appreciated if all hackers can express their thanks, whenever you meet them in the Mini Mark.

The next monthly hack will be on Sunday 25 June 2017. As usual we will meet on the pavement opposite Droster’s Centre, in Central Avenue, Pringle Bay, at 08:30 whereafter we will proceed to the hack site. The hack ends at 11:30. Everyone who would like to help rid Pringle Bay of alien vegetation will be welcome. Hacking tools are provided. Contact Chris on (028) 273 8588, or just turn up at the meeting point.