by KBergReserve

The Battle for Betty’s Bay Report on Hack no 656

The rain won this battle and forced a retreat of the troops. We will re-engage in January! We will (weather permitting) move our annual bring and braai as well. Beer will be provided, but if you want anything else please bring it with you. If the wind is too high, bring a picnic otherwise there will be a fire. Sadly, I record the death of Malcolm Pollard, third convenor of the hack from 1982 to 1984. Malcolm started hacking in the 1970s soon after he and Wendy bought their holiday house in Betty's Bay. Malcolm…
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by KBergReserve

FUTURE EVENTS

TALKS PLANNED FOR 2018:  20 JANUARY 2018: Rod & Rachel Saunders will be speaking on Gladioli. They are currently writing a book about the genus and are keen to share their knowledge after an informative trip to the Drakensberg studying the list of SA Gladioli. Join us at Nivenia Hall, Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens in Betty’s Bay on 20 January at 6 pm.WALKS PLANNED FOR 2018 The January walk will be advertised in New Year so keep an eye out. If you miss it, as usual, we will meet at the Harold Porter National…
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by KBergReserve

A Tribute to Penny Palmer

PENELOPE AYLIFF PALMER 16 Janaury 1936 – 23 October 2017 Penny P, first female wielder of chain-saws at the Betty’s Bay Hack, birder, frog finder, music-lover, writer, mimic, comic, past chairman of the Kogelberg Branch of BotSoc SA. Penny lived in Kleinmond when she first came to the Kogelberg in her early fifties. There she was a co-founder of the Hiking Club, keen member of the Nature Conservation Society, even sang in a choir. She discovered the Betty’s Bay Hack - Joy Ruger tells of how she and Penny cycled all the way to hack…
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Walk Report

Remoteness, tranquillity, a slow walk, sunny and mild weather, pristine Cape seashore vegetation, sweeping beaches, rock pools, sea shell strewn coves, good humour, birds and a spot to have tea and watch the whale out at sea. It doesn’t get better. Six members and guests set off on the 21st October to ramble along the sea shore from Betty’s Bay’s beautiful Silversands beach towards Cape Hangklip in perfect weather. Having no fixed destination set us free to take our time. We would stop for tea when we felt like it and then retrace our steps.…
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by KBergReserve

The Wednesday Hack

Frik Potgieter, Convenor of the Betty’s Bay Hack, receiving the new Stihl chainsaw from Natalie van Wulven, Treasurer of the Kogelberg Branch of the Botanical Society.  The saw was a donation to the hack from the Kogelberg Branch.  The handover was observed by Chris Geldenhuys, Convenor of the Pringle Bay Hack, Willem Stiglingh, and other members of the Wednesday Hack. The end is beckoning on the clearing of the pine infestation on the slopes between Pringle Bay and Rooiels. A bad Myrtle spread on Four Streams Road, Betty’s Bay was brought under control. Frik Potgieter…
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by KBergReserve

Talk Report

HUMAN ORIGINS – Professor John Compton A light moment came at the close of John Compton’s talk when Jan proposing a vote of thanks announced   ‘Now at last I know where I come from!’. We are not the pinnacle of evolution. Although we have special traits, all life forms are special. Our human origins go back over 5 million years. Today our world population is about 7 billion. Originally there were 3 or 4 species of bipedials inhabiting the earth, now only homo sapiens, namely ourselves who walk on two feet. There was Paranthropus –…
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by KBergReserve

PRINGLE BAY HACK REPORT N0 129

Today 29 October 2017 the Pringle Bay Hack Group tackled the old Hospital site, plot 496 and cleared the greater part of the plot of mainly Rooikrantz. We were surprised to see the wide spectrum of natural Fynbos that does exist on the ridge of this plot. The Wild Olive is impressive! Thank you guys for a good achievement, but there is plenty more left to clear! We will tackle that at a later stage. Today the attendance was good and the following 24 members performed the hack; Louw Toerien, Andree Henning, Neil and Penny…
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BETTY’S BAY HACK REPORT NO 655

On a lovely spring morning more Rooikrans were tackled on the same public open space as last month. The work was tedious as the troops had to cut their way in through thick bush. Despite this, a large number were eradicated. Well done all! Christine Dreyer provided the sandwiches and Merran Silberbauer the tea. Thank you ladies! The hackers were, John Benn, Jan Joubert, Jeannie Harning, Bernard and Natalie van Wulven, Willem Stiglingh, Chris Cadman (welcome back!), Maarten and Hilary Mauve, Jim Russel, Rosemary Fowkes, Carole Roberts, Tom Dreyer, Ed Silberbauer, Frik Potgieter.Chris Geldenhuys as…
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by KBergReserve

Kogelberg Branch of the Botanical Society’s Survey of Members’ Interests

Everybody’s got one... One of the benefits of belonging to the Botanical Society is that you can make a difference – and it’s not what you think. You don’t have to be a botanical wonk or a natural science geek to make the Kogelberg Branch of the Botanical Society of South Africa even more successful. This ‘Survey of Members’ Interests’ will help us all get an idea of the many ways we can work together in the Kogelberg Branch of the Botanical Society. From combating alien invasive plants to helping our get togethers to be…
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