The Cape Bird Club
Rehabilitation – exotic vegetation removal.
This is a working relationship with the City and the Cape Bird Club.
Where
The Cape Bird Club has a long history at Zandvlei, and has had monthly
'hacks' started by
Alan Morris back in 1978. He initiated the practise for the Cape Bird Club.
Bill Rudings took over as leader in 1985 and subsequently Gavin Lawson in 1991.
In 2006 the Wildwood Bird Sanctuary
changed dramatically to be called the Greater Zandvlei Estuary Nature
Reserve. It is now a local authority nature reserve, whereas it had no legal
status before. It has changed from 24 hectares to 96 hectares, and includes all the
water surface of Zandvlei to the mouth and a number of terrestrial areas
surrounding the vlei, including Bokmakierie Park in Bath Road.
This process took about 6 years to achieve by 'local interest groups'
with the City.
When
The 'rehabilitation' take place every, first Saturday afternoon of the month at 14h00.
Why
The idea is to remove these species, so that the biodiversity of indigenous plant species may be encouraged. This also promotes the diversity of other living species, which make up or are part of habitats and ecosystems.
The exotic vegetation often dominates areas, where it grows and therefore suppresses the indigenous plants. The exotic plants grow very quickly, removing large amounts of water from the soil and creating a shade covering canopy, which prevents the sunlight reaching the ground, where the low growing ground covers and seedlings struggle to grow.
The exotic plants can and some do alter the soil characteristic by adding
nitrogen to it. The fynbos vegetation usually grows in nitrogen poor soils.
It is an opportunity to "give back" with some of your effort. One can also learn and see more of the surrounding Nature Reserve, where we enjoy regular outings and have done so for many years.
Bokmakierie Park, 2008 (part of the Greater Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve)
Bowen Boshier and Bert Bron Ludine Lee Wright, Elaine Millar and Leif Petersen
Ward 64 Councilor Demetri Qually doing
his share to remove the invassive vegetation.
Alan Morris, David Osborne and Una Hartley – Wildwood Island 05/12/2004.
photograph by Una Hartley
Read about what this mole was doing before the 4th June 2005 'hack' at the Zandvlei Nature Reserve.
Contact Gavin Lawson (021) 705 5224.
