KNIETJIESHOOGTE HACK Many thanks to Lawrence Odendal (Working for Water: Cape Nature) who speedily organised a two-day hack of the area Knietjieshoogte from the cemetery to the reservoir after I brought to his attention that there were many Pine and Hakea coming up, some of which were already more than 2 metres high. Nobody wants a repeat of Sunday, 8 February 1987 when “a huge fire raged for two days” destroying “five houses and vast expanses of commonage and fynbos” on Knietjieshoogte (Greyton Conservation brochure). Lawrence has promised to assist on an annual basis to clear the illegal and invasive aliens in this area. It is encouraging that many Upper Park residents clear invasive aliens in the area on the reserve side of their properties, replacing it with fynbos and other indigenous plants. According to Prof Dave Pepler (Center for Invasive Aliens, Stellenbosch University) the big Cape Sugarbird or Promerops Cafer (with the long tail) seen on many white Sugarbushes (Protea Repens) in this area needs “old fynbos” like this to survive. Swarms of bees are currently harvesting from the Proteas as well on any given sunny day. The hills clad in flowering Sugarbush, replete with prattling Cape Sugarbirds is certainly one of the most splendid sights which fynbos has to offer. Picture of Donovan (Team Leader) and his crew of ten having well-deserved coffee after the hack. Anna-louise Coetzer
Posted on: Fri, 01 Aug 2014 12:32:35 +0000
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