by KBergReserve

BETTY’S BRAND!

Anli Theron Met die brandseisoen op hande gaan ons gedagtes terug na die verwoestende brand in Bettysbaai in Maart verlede jaar. Ter herinnering daaraan publiseer ons hiermee die laaste deel. Bettysbaaiveldbrand 3 – Ons tel ons wonde Donderdagoggend 5 Maart word ek voordag wakker. Dis doodstil, net die branders raas so nou en dan. Dis stil. Niks voëlsang nie. Niks paddasang. Niks krieke. Dis aardig. Wanneer dit lig word, begin die Suidoos opstaan, meedoënloos. Ek trek aan en gryp my kamera. Begin foto’s neem, dis nog amper te donker en aanvanklik kan ek sien dit…
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by KBergReserve

KOGELBERG BOTSOC CELEBRATES THIRTY YEARS AS A BRANCH

Merran Silberbauer One can plan everything except the weather - and Saturday 12 December dawned damp, but by 11 am the sun was shining intermittently and those who dared packed up their picnic baskets and headed for Die Stroompie, a privately owned nature reserve which, at this time of year, is covered in colourful Leucospermum cornocarpodendron. We arrived at the milkwood trees that border the pebbly cove to find the poachers had been there before us. Plastic bags and empty bottles were strewn around - the black bags were found to contain unshucked perlemoen -…
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by KBergReserve

THE HANGKLIP ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR: MORE OF THE STORY

Allan Heydorn In the September issue of the Newsletter, we published an article titled “The Hangklip Ecological Corridor – The untold story”. In that article, mention is made of Simon Marais who very generously donated the substantial funds which enabled WWF-SA to purchase the eastern flank of Hangklip Mountain and also the smallholding in the valley at its foot. The last paragraph of the article tells of Simon's sad and unexpected passing and the intention to erect a memorial plaque for him. This promise has now been fulfilled. On 19 November, Dr Andrew Baxter of…
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by KBergReserve

THREE GARDENS IN SPRING

Tim Attwell You’ve got to love life in Rooi Els, Pringle Bay and Betty’s Bay. I mean, where else would a Monday morning at 9:00 am see twenty plus people pile into a convoy of cars to go, not to work, but to three amazing gardens in Betty’s Bay? First was Helen George’s garden, hidden above Clarence Drive. Developed over decades on mountainside land owned by a family trust, the garden has two very different areas. The first, beautifully terraced, is a formal layout of indigenous trees, shrubs and flower beds showcasing the best of…
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by KBergReserve

NEWS OF PENNY PALMER

Merrilee Berrisford Penny, a longstanding member of the branch and a previous chairman, has now been a resident of Clareinch Nurses War Memorial Home in Pinelands for over a year. I think all who know her will be pleased that she is not only being lovingly cared for but can be in a garden bright with spring flowers and a prize-winning Gnidia.  Here she is with the Gnidia and Sister Newman showing her the certificate – Second Prize in the Cape Horticultural Show. This article is a general information sheet and should not be used or…
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by KBergReserve

THE HANGKLIP ECO CORRIDOR – THE UNTOLD STORY

Story told by Allan Heydorn In the book Your Place in the Kogelberg it is stated that the land comprising the Hangklip Ecological Corridor between Betty’s Bay and Pringle Bay is owned by WESSA. In fact, this corridor was established over a 12 year period between 1998 and 2010 through a wonderful collaborative effort between the Kogelberg Branch of the BotSoc, WWF-SA, Cape Nature, the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, conservation conscious individuals and the private sector. As will be shown below, the land is actually owned by WWF-SA, who facilitated the land purchases involved. Had this…
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