Hacking as fire damage control

“Invasive trees such as pines and gums burn ten times hotter than fynbos, and fires occurring in areas invaded by listed alien plants are difficult to bring under control”, says Louise Stafford, project leader of the Green Jobs Unit which manages the Cape Town City’s invasive species control teams. In both the 2000 and 2015 Cape fires, homes alongside nature reserves surrounded by invasive species such as gums, wattle and eucalyptus were more likely to experience infrastructure damage, as opposed to properties that were cleared of invasive species.  “The repetition of damage to houses and…
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Don’t Be Trashy!

Nature offers so much and it is the responsibility of us all to conserve the unique natural heritage resources of the Western Cape for the benefit of future generations.  Nature works like a natural factory to provide us with clean, fresh water and other natural ecosystem services. Water travels all the way from our majestic mountains, through rivers, wetlands and dams before it comes out of your tap. All rubbish ends up in our water ways and the ocean and has a severe impact on the natural environment.  The process starts with each one of us – to reduce our consumption…
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Gardeners Group

The second meeting of the Gardeners Group was on Monday 20 August 2018. Perhaps because we are all so grateful for rain, the prospect of a drippy walkabout on this Monday morning did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of our newly-formed Gardeners Group. There was the promise of weather clearing up later in the morning so 23 of us showed up for an exploration of three gardens – this time located at the Pringle Bay end of Betty's Bay. The gardens again differed greatly as to their terrain, soil conditions and age, and once again…
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Gardeners Group Planning Committee

After a highly successful first gathering of the Gardeners Group, a meeting was held on Monday 6 August to  form a steering committee; clarify the Terms of Reference of the group; and plan the way forward. The following were present:  Merrilee Berrisford, Gwen Coetzee, Andrea Benn, Rea Borcherds, Barbara Jenman,  Ingrid Buchan, Sharon Coleridge, Galia Manicom. Objectives of the Gardeners Group : The aim is to arrange informal and convivial gatherings, centred around garden visits and botanical activities, which will be opportunities to share knowledge,  learn something useful, be inspired and encouraged,  and obtain answers…
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Ten ways to support Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens

One of the core purposes of the Botanical Society of South Africa is to support the work of the National Botanical Gardens. A recent meeting between Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens Curator Berenice Carolus and Tim Attwell, Chairman of the Kogelberg Branch, came up with ten ways for the Kogelberg branch of the Botanical Society to partner with the Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens.   Promoting the Garden Botsoc Kogelberg can help HPNBG by promoting the Garden and encouraging visits among the local public and keeping Botsoc members informed of developments in HPNBG. A ‘critical…
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Garden Club Meeting Notice

Dear All Andrea and I met yesterday with Anli Theron and Sharon Couldridge – apologies from another five. This was very much a preliminary gathering. We’d like to gather more people together for a first outing or two and then hand over to new organisers. This will bring in more workers perhaps. 23rd July, a Monday we’ll meet at Harold Porter 9am, weather permitting visit Gwen’s garden, then Bass Rd with Jenny B doing a bit of fynbos pruning – choice of Anli and Andrea’s garden - then tea and talk in our garden. Perhaps will…
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Kogelberg Branch Botanical Society Members Interest Survey

Thank you to all our members and non-members for participating in the Kogelberg Branch Botanical Society  Members Interest Survey.  We have analysed the results and the findings are reflected below.  The committee will be reviewing the suggestions and watch this spot for future local activities and branch engagements. Question 1 Question 2 Question 3 Question 4 Question 5 Question 6 Do you have any suggestions or comments? A serious attempt needs to be made to inform and involve more non-whites on the inherent value of the Fynbos and natural environment. I see a need for…
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HANTAM THANK-YOU

We were delighted to get this note of thanks from Colleen Rust, SANBI Senior Administration Officer at the Hantam National Botanical Garden in Niewoudtville, in response to our Branch's book donation. We understand the Garden’s library is the old sitting room of Neil and Neva McGregor’s house, a good place for our books. Dear Merrilee I would like to thank you all at the Kogelberg BotSoc Branch on behalf of the Hantam NBG for your very generous donation of The Illustrated Dictionary of Southern African Plant Names. We are very excited about being able to add…
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BOTSOC AT THE HAROLD PORTER CONCERTS

For the first time, Kogelberg Branch had a presence at not only the concerts but also the Plant Sale in Harold Porter this December. Jeannie Harning and Natalie van Wulven - our new committee members and treasurer, manned a table selling Your Place in the Kogelberg and other books and, most importantly, encouraging people to join the Society. Natalie has established a Facebook page for the branch, both are actively promoting branch activities – and hacking. Great work, Natalie and Jeannie!
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HPNBG BIODIVERSITY CAREERS EXPO 2016

- Thamsanqa Makade The annual Biodiversity Careers Expo was organised and hosted by the local Biodiversity Education and Empowerment (BEE) team from HPNBG on 11 August, in collaboration with the WC Education Department (WCED). Exhibitors included Fernkloof Nature Reserve, Iziko Museum (Cape Town), CapeNature, Iimbovane Outreach Programme (Stellenbosch University), HIK Abalone, and SANBI Scientists (Compton Herbarium and Horticulturists). Participating were all grade 10s from all Overberg schools, including Qhayiya, Hermanus, Umyezo Wama Apile Combined, Gansbaai, Swellendam, Swartberg, Groenberg, Villiersdorp, Albert Myburgh, Bredasdorp and De Villiers Graaf high schools. Learners were exposed to careers in horticulture,…
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