Duiwenhoks Conservancy

Duiwenhoks Conservancy AGM 2024

Margaux Newdigate Uncategorized , , , , 0 Comment

We had an interesting AGM on Easter Saturday in the Community Hall. Thanks to so many for attending!

The committee gave feedback on progress during the year; Justin gave an overview of our current thinking on the Conservation Management Plan (CMP) process to evaluate and map the conservation items within the Vermaaklikheid area to protect and conserve the space and the delicate balance of heritage buildings, development needs and environment.  If you would like to see it, please click here: Conservation Management Plan (CMP) AGM 2024

We were lucky enough to have Linda Fletcher, Sustainability Manager, and Rita Liebenberg, Gouritz Corridors and Restoration Programme Manager from the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) share information about who they are, and what they do.   We are so grateful to Linda and Rita for taking time off to do this work in the middle of a long weekend.

Linda Fletcher, GCBR Sustainability Manager

Rita Liebenberg, GCBR, Gouritz Corridors and Restoration Programme Manager

If you would like to see Linda’s presentation, please click here: Linda’s GCBR presentation.

Other AGM updates related to alien clearing, fire and chipper, finances. The 2024/5 committee was voted in with no changes. Thanks to the team for doing the hard work as volunteers.

The minutes have been finalised and are available for viewing here: AGM minutes

Many thanks to Anthony and Bibi Black for providing tea and coffee, it was much appreciated!

Finally, a request to please pay your 2024/5 subscription of R500. We rely entirely on the community to fund our operations.

Banking details are: Duivenhoks Conservancy, Standard Bank, Rondebosch,  Branch code: 02500911, Account no: 075577623  

Vermaaklikheid children need sports

Margaux Newdigate Uncategorized , , , , , , 0 Comment

Abe Pretorius grew up in Vermaaklikheid. As a youngster, there was no dedicated place for children to kick a ball around, so they played in the street or someone’s yard.  They dreamed of a grassy field where they could play their favourite sport: football, rugby, netball or cricket.

Abe has helped make this dream a reality. He volunteers his time to support the current generation of children with healthy outdoor play. He also keeps the field maintained, by using his weed-eater and the occasional loan of a lawnmower from a kind resident.

We know how important it is for children to be able to have a safe place to develop physical skills but the benefits of outside play extend beyond exercise. Sport helps children make new friends, have fun, learn to be a team member, learn about play fair and improve their self-esteem.

With the help of GivenGain, and the Duiwenhoks Conservancy, Abe hopes to purchase a lawnmower, and employ a grounds person to do the necessary weekly maintenance.

Please contribute to the maintenance of the sports field for the children of Vermaaklikheid. Every donation helps. It’s simple to donate, click here now.  

Also please share this appeal in your network and help our kids to play.  

Limestone fynbos booklet available again

Margaux Newdigate Announcements, Uncategorized , 0 Comment

Louisa Oberholzer’s much requested Limestone fynbos book is available again. In response to many requests for this booklet, first printed in 2010, it is now available at R180 (R150 for students).

This beautiful booklet describes the key features of the unusual Limestone flora, including a list of 171 species that have so far been identified. It is hoped that it will inspire readers to observe, photograph and continue to record examples of this fascinating flora.

Please contact Louisa Oberholzer to obtain copies of the booklet (072 9477775). Payments to be made to B J Oberholzer, Standard Bank, Hermanus Branch, Account Number 070222541.

Duiwenhoks Conservancy AGM 2021

Margaux Newdigate Uncategorized , , , , , , , , , 0 Comment
Duiwenhoks Conservancy AGM 2021

We completed our first digital Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 24 March 21.

Many thanks to all who attended it and gave us feedback, especially during the committee election section. We really appreciate your interest. 

If you are interested in the recording, it can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfMPCgnWwnA

Our AGM agenda included:

  1. Chairman’s Report + finances 
  2. Review of 2020 initiatives
  3. Hessequa Municipality property valuation 2021
  4. Wild fire: Vermaaklikheid fire fund & February 2021 fire
  5. Alien clearing: Uitvlug case study
  6. Duiwenhoks Estuary Report by Dr Lara van Niekerk & Dr Stephen Lamberth
  7. Election of Committee for 2021/2

We will share more soon! 

A Practical Permaculture Workshop

Margaux Newdigate Uncategorized , , , , 0 Comment

The Conservancy hosted a Permaculture Design workshop over 2 days in November 2020.

On our first morning, we spent some time understanding the basics of Permaculture. There are 3 ethics involved: to care for the earth, to care for people, and to share the surplus. The rest of the time was outside, learning how to apply some Permaculture principles in planning and planting vegetable gardens.

We made good examples of a swale bed on a contour and a vegetable garden for four. These examples can be copied in terms of design and companion plantings. We created a ‘mother’ bed with the variety of plants that Alex supplied. The idea with this bed is to provide cuttings for our own vegetable gardens.

Alex shows us how to build a ‘machine’ to identify levels across any ground

Many thanks to Konrad Stutterheim and Chesslin Micheals for agreeing to maintain these plants. If you would like to visit the gardens, please liase with Konrad or Chesslin.

We have much to be thankful for, especially:

  • Alex for her brilliant facilitation; pitching her knowledge to a very diverse group, keeping things fun and light while also driving us to complete. Alex also supported our initiative financially by charging a reduced rate for the workshop.
  • Shelly Kleyn Armistead for kindly and generously funding the project and Margaux Newdigate for sourcing and securing that support and funding.
  • Guy Tillim, Konrad Stutterheim and Lawrence Jones for providing the space as our base;
  • Ruth Loewenthal for helping with access to the kitchen and crockery.
  • Pieter Takkies of Bosheuwel for the manure.
  • Chesslin Michaels, Konrad and Guy for allowing us to use their gardens.
  • Our delegates. Friday and Saturdays are working days for many and the weather was very challenging. Everyone got stuck in and did what they could to make it a fun and productive two days.

For more info, please contact Rooken at rooken@rookenpodesta.com.

 

On Saturday we spent some time laying out the mother garden for planting our seedlings into.

Protect the Duiwenhoks river this holiday season

John Thorne Uncategorized , , 0 Comment

The Duiwenhoks Estuary and its surrounds are one of the last remaining pristine estuaries in the country and the Duiwenhoks Conservancy has been established to preserve its unique character.

Biologists have long maintained that the most important role of the estuarine environment for fish is the provision of nursery grounds for juveniles. Estuaries provide a typically calm, sheltered environment where the higher temperatures and rich food supply allow rapid growth and protection for marine fish fry.

Below are a few guidelines to show how you can help to maintain the uniqueness of the area and ensure safety. We ask you to please bear these in mind during your stay.

The Duiwenhoks is not a skiing river.

Boats need to watch out for Swimmers and Canoes.

Slow Down when passing a Jetty!!

Please drive responsibly at all times with due consideration for the peaceful nature of the river, for houses, jettys, small craft and other users of the river.

Please observe the ‘Slow Zone’ or ‘No Wake Zone’ close to the Village.

When fishing:
Please make sure you have a license to fish or collect bait in the river
Spearfishing in the tidal areas is not permitted
Please stick to the size and bag limits for fish and bait
Cast nets/throw nets for fishing may not be used from sunset to sunrise.

Boats:

Remember that when approaching an oncoming boat you must pass with the oncoming boat on your port (left) side, i.e. when traveling on the river keep right.

When overtaking another boat on the river please do so on their port side.

Please ensure, especially when passing a smaller or stationary boat on the river that your wake does not cause a danger to the other boat.

Remember – to avoid a collision a motor boat must give right of way to all other craft and a rowing boat or canoe gives way to a sailing boat.

When approaching jettys please be aware of swimmers and slow down if necessary. Many people practice long distance swimming in the river and they are difficult to spot from a fast moving boat.

Please keep at least 5 meters from the river bank when in motion in order to preserve the banks (there may also be children in the reeds!!)

When approaching the river bank please do so slowly.

No objects or people may be towed on the Duiwenhoks River (eg. no skiing or tubing).

When out at sea please remember you may not approach closer than 300 m to a whale.