New life under lockdown

The Covid19 Lockdowns have put a temporary brake on our community and school planting. However, plants need to be put in the ground early in the rainy season, and sadly we can't wait until lock down is lifted and our young and old nature guardians are able to come and help us again. 

Alex Lansdowne has been hard at work preparing and smoking the seeds that have been collected especially for restoration from Princess Vlei and nearby sites. 

On June 1, as soon as Level 3 was declared, volunteers from the Kirstenbosch Botanical Society, including the chairperson Keith Kirsten, and Chris Moir, and the Princess Vlei Forum, joined  City of Cape Town officials, Alex Lansdown, Elzanne Singel,  and the manager Denisha Anand in putting seeds and bulbs in the ground. The seeds of about 30 species of ephemeral Strandveld and Cape Flats Sand Fynbos species were broadcast, and about 60 Pelargonium triste bulbs were planted. In addition, Keith and Chris each planted a Serruria foeniculacea - the critically endangered Rondevlei Spiderhead which we are reintroducing to Princess Vlei this year. 

We are extremely grateful to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Society for their very generous donation of R20 000 to assist with the restoration project. 

For the rest of the urgent restoration work, including clearing aliens and rubble as well as planting, Alex is working with a team of specialised workers. The workers will receive training in restoration while they do the work. Through these means, we are keeping the project on track. Our young nature guardians and community volunteers will be able to help us with monitoring the progress of the new plants later in the year.