NATURE | 13 11
6 November 2019
Protecting our natural treasures From P 9 A recent initiative has been to include children from Kleinmond Primêr, who call themselves Nature Buddies, in the alien clearance programme. By nurturing their interest in and knowledge about the natural environment, it is hoped that they will play their part in protecting it into the future. Another of the important functions of KNCS has been the establishment and unremitting upkeep of hiking trails in the reserve. Beginning in the early 1980s, 51 km of paths, within a 5 km radius of the Kleinmond town hall are now available to hikers from all over the world – from easy walks along the coastal path to more demanding hikes in mountainous terrain. Members of the KNCS who use sections of this network of paths on a regular basis, are two flower-picking teams. Sanctioned by a formal picking permit, they sally forth once a week, irrespective of the weather, to pick specimens of those species flowering at the time, to display in the Kleinmond Tourism office and the Kleinmond Library for the enjoyment of visitors. The data base they have created lists an astonishing 564 species, including 41 proteas and 35 of the identified 76 orchids in this area. Unfortunately, not everyone who picks flowers in the reserve does so legally and some of the rarer species have been trafficked out of the area, pointing to the need for constant vigilance. Indeed, the KNCS is proud of its role in ensuring that removal of the beautiful Erica pilansii has been declared illegal after hundreds of kilograms were stolen from the Kogelberg State Forest. In March and April each year masses of these beautiful red flowers can now be seen along certain sections of the Perdeberg trail.
Another important and ongoing project is the society’s periodic coastal clean-up, involving as many locals as possible. Botha Maree again: “This year one of our committee members (Carl Swart) arranged two clean-up initiatives. The first one was on World Wetlands Day early in February, when 37 members of the public participated in a clean-up of the Kleinmond lagoon and the immediate surroundings. They were joined by 47 children, all members of the Strandloper Eco Youth Club. An astonishing amount of rubbish was collected along the dunes and beach adjoining the lagoon. “The second clean-up in September covered a much larger area. It was part of the annual International Coastal Clean-up which involves thousands of volunteers from more than 100 countries. Seven groups (totalling 65 adults and 39 children) participated in clean-ups at the Kleinmond main beach, lagoon, and harbour; Palmiet beach and lagoon; Bettys Bay, Pringle Bay and Rooi Els." "The Kleinmond areas were generally cleaner than in previous years, however cigarette butts are still the single most picked-up item; in increasing rather than decreasing numbers!” The unrelenting efforts of the KNCS to protect its magnificent natural surroundings can best be summed up in the words of Peter Slingsby: “When you look up at the magnificent sweep of Kleinmond’s peaks, and admire the floral treasures that meet you on every corner of every footpath, try if you can, to imagine the mountains as a dismal forest of prickly pines, thorny hakea and barren wattles, and be thankful!” For further information contact Botha Maree on bothamaree@gmail.com or 081 769 4731.
Remembrance Hour at Hermanus Cemetery Local resident Melanie Moore organised a ‘Remembrance Hour’ at the Hermanus Cemetery on Sunday 3 November which was open to the public. Melanie got involved with the cemetery in October 2017 when she and her family gave the outer wall a fresh coat of paint and planted hardy, drought-resistant shrubs in an effort to beautify the cemetery. After living in Europe for 15 years, she was inspired by the neat and lovingly tended cemeteries and wanted to do the same in Hermanus with her spare time. “By beautifying the cemetery and holding a remembrance event such as this, hopefully people will feel more comfortable to visit it,” she said. A small musical ensemble from Hermanus High School played music for the visitors to the cemetery and Reverend James Gray gave a short, heart-warming sermon. Six members from MOTH (Memorable Order of the Tin Hats),
made up an Honour Guard along with some local cyclists, whilst a trumpeter played ‘The Last Post’. At the end of the formalities, racing pigeons were released in remembrance of those who have been laid to rest in the cemetery. “We hope to host an event like this annually at Hermanus Cemetery and I want to encourage people to look after their loved ones’ plots,” said Melanie. “We have a few volunteers who weed, plant and water every now and then, but if everyone works together to keep the grounds neat, it will achieve a much longer, lasting effect.” Melanie regularly visits the cemetery to water and tend to the plants. White crosses for unmarked graves were also recently erected – half of which she paid for herself and the other half from funds she raised. If you too want to get involved and help Melanie to beautify our cemetery, contact her on 071 239 6646 or email melanie.ronell.moore@ gmail.com.
ABOVE: Ready, steady, get set, go! Kleinmond residents gather on the lawns of the lagoon for the September coastal clean-up. BELOW: Braam van der Merwe and Lorraine Beneke are two of the KNCS flower pickers who go on weekly foraging trips into the surrounding fynbos to collect a selection of local species for the permanent displays in the Kleinmond Library (below) and Tourism Office. PHOTOS: Supplied
