Princess Vlei is home to several flowering annuals. Thanks to consistent rainfall this winter - and the City delaying their mowing - this spring has seen a spectacular display of flowers at the Vlei.
     Most spring flowers are annual plants, which only grow for half a year. They reach the peak in their life cycle in late spring, when they flower and dominate landscapes with blushes of white, orange and yellow. Common annual daisies found in the Greater Princess Vlei Conservation Area are the Rain Daisy (Dimorphotheca pluvialis), Veldt Star (Ursinia anthemoides ), African sunsorrel (Heliophila africana) and Sandveld Ragwort (Senecio arenarius).
      As summer approaches these plants die and release vast quantities of seeds. These seeds lie dormant over the harsh summer months and only germinate with the first autumn rains. The seeds are important parcels of genetic material which allow a new generation of plants to grow. The dead plants also serve an important function, insulating shrub seedlings over summer.

     The Princess Vlei Forum conservation team, under the guidance of our manager, is hard at
work collecting massive quantities of seeds for these annuals. PVF volunteers and our specialist restoration team harvest seeds in paper bags. The seeds will be stored over summer and broadcast in
autumn 2021 in the new restoration areas.
     This work has been made possible by the City of Cape Town adjusting their mowing schedule. If the flowers are mowed too early in the season, they have no opportunity to seed. this means in a few years they will die out, and already some species are threatened. The Forum has requested that mowing be suspended between April and November for this reason. 
We hope that with this mowing schedule, and the help of our volunteers to gather and broadcast seeds will help us build up the annual populations until Princess Vlei becomes one of the City's top  spring flower destinations. 

The Princess Vlei Forum lost a very good friend with the passing of Graham Lashbrooke, who died on Midwinter’s Day, 21st June 2020, at the age of 80. 
From the founding of Princess Vlei Forum in 2012, Graham and his wife Mea were enthusiastic supporters of the campaign to save Princess Vlei from the destructive development of a shopping mall. Mea served on the management committee for several years, and Graham was always a willing participant in all events held by the Forum, including planting, picketing and parades. Graham also assisted as election officer in various Annual General Meetings. 
   Beyond his contribution to the environment, Graham was a passionate educator and understood that education provides the route forward. His field was information technology. For more than four decades, his training school transformed the lives of young people by enabling their careers in the IT industry. 
   Graham’s natural skill at bringing people together, coupled with his passion for education, led him to his role as founding member in 2004 of what today are two vibrant centres for education:  LEAP Maths and Science Schools http://leapschool.org.za/and TSIBA Business School https://www.tsiba.ac.za/ . To enable access to education and skills for students who could not afford the conventional route drove Graham until the end of his life. ​
    We salute Graham for his dedication to improving the lives of others, and for helping to defend our natural world from destruction. 
    We would like to offer our deepest condolences to Mea and family in this sad time. 

 
The Princess Vlei community lost a great stalwart with the passing of Dr Graham Noble in July. Graham was passionate about the environment, and about civic participation. 
    Graham was a  long standing member of the GCTCA, serving as treasurer and secretary at different times. He has spent many years in a spirited engagement with the City about community issues. When the Princess Vlei was threatened by the destructive development of a shopping mall on its banks, the GCTCA was one of the leading organisations to take up the struggle against the City, and Graham didn't hesitate to step in.
    Graham spent long hours gathering information and documents from the City, and was one of the main mobilisers of the early resistance to the mall. Thanks to his efforts and that of other community members, the City's Spatial Development and Land Use Management committee turned down the bid to develop the shopping mall. This decision was then overturned by the provincial Department of Environment, and the community and concerned organisations came together again to form the Princess Vlei Forum. Graham was one of the founding members of the Forum, and was very active in the campaign that followed. His meticulous attention to detail, and persistence in tracking documents, enabled the collection of critical evidence regarding the shopping mall bid, which helped to uncover some serious irregularities and possible fraud. This formed the basis for a case laid by the Forum with the Public Protector, and later for the case laid by Kelvin Cochran with the Hawks. The Forum was building a case against the City, when the City agreed to scrap the mall development. There is no doubt that Graham's dedication played an important part in this community victory. 
   In addition to his work on Princess Vlei, Graham was chairperson of the Scarborough Ratepayers Association, and very active in promoting a harmonious relationship between the human and wild animal community in that area. This included active efforts to save the baboons from extermination and injury by irate residents. 
     The Forum will sorely miss Graham's contributions to the organisation. We would like to pass sincere condolences to his wife and family. 

This Blog post was written by Zoë Chapman Poulsen and commissioned by the Botanical Society of South Africa. It was first published by the Botanical Society at https://botsocblog.wordpress.com/2020/08/03/community-and-partnerships-restoration-planting-at-princess-vlei/.  Photos: Zoë Chapman Poulsen and Bridget Pitt

​Thanks to the Botanical Society Kirstenbosch Branch for their generous contribution of funds, expertise and time. Volunteers from the Lions Club and Princess Vlei Forum community also assisted.   

On Saturday 25 July the Princess Vlei Forum (PVF), in partnership with the Botanical Society of South Africa Kirstenbosch Branch, held a planting event at The Greater Princess Vlei conservation area in Cape Town. More than 3 000 plants were planted on the day. The extinct in the wild Whorled Heath (Erica verticillata) and critically endangered Serruria foeniculacea were reintroduced for the first time. This event forms part of the ongoing pioneering ecological restoration taking place at the vlei, with multiple stakeholders, specialists and international partners. 
   Located on the Cape Flats near the suburbs of Fairways, Southfield, Heathfield, Grassy Park, and Retreat, Princess Vlei forms the gateway to the wetlands system of the False Bay Ecology Park, encompassing Rondevlei, Zeekoevlei and Zandvlei. This extensive wetland reserve forms an important community and heritage space, as well as habitat for birds and the endangered Western Leopard Toad. 

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. 

​Just before the lockdown was declared, 30 young scientists and nature guardians from Levana Primary Harmony Primary came to Princess Vlei to find out about all the species that make up a wetland family.
 
Before setting out, Forum members reminded the learners to treat all the creatures they encountered with great respect, and to ensure that none were harmed in the process of studying them. The learners then went out in teams with data sheets to note down observations of what they found.
 
A number of creatures were observed, but for many the highlight of the visit was finding a cluster of young Western Leopard toadlets hiding under a rock. The rock was in the magic spiral garden which school learners planted two years ago, and which is now really starting to flourish.
 
Several other creatures were observed, including Blacksmith lapwings, Redbilled Teals, butterflies, bees, ladybirds, grasshoppers, dragon flies and fish.
 
This was to be the first of two sessions – in the following week, the learners were due to create dream catchers representing the web of life that is found in a thriving wetland. Unfortunately, the lockdown prevented this from taking place, but we look forward to the day when we can complete this process.
 

To the dragonfly nymph of Princess Vlei, thank you for allow us to visit your eco-system. You make me feel as if I have a duty to keep your environment safe. I promise to respect your habitat (water) and protect it from pollution, whenever I see someone polluting it - Damica Fortuin Lotus High school
 
To the butterfly of Princess Vlei Thank you for standing out so beautifully. You make me feel happy when I catch a tiny sight of your beautiful wings. I promise I won’t destroy any flowers - Caithlin Davids Zeekovlei High School
 
These messages were written by learners to express their gratitude to the creatures of Princess Vlei, during the World Wetlands Day event on February 3. Nearly 200 learners from Lotus High and Zeekovlei High attended the event, which was hosted jointly by the Princess Vlei Forum (PVF) and the Western Cape Wetlands Forum (WCWF).

The international theme for the day this year was Wetlands and Biodiversity – highly relevant as our planet is faces catastrophic loss of biodiversity due to Climate Change, plastic waste, industrial pollution and habitat loss. Wetlands, which support a wide range of species, and serve as nurseries for fish, amphibians and other aquatic animals, are the most threatened ecosystems.  
 
The Greater Princess Vlei Conservation Area is one of many important urban wetlands in Cape Town. An important part of the Princess Vlei Forum’s mission is to foster a love of the wetland and nature amongst our younger residents. The day offered learners many opportunities to experience the biodiversity at the vlei.
 
The Western Cape Wetlands Forum is devoted to sharing information and expertise for the protection, management and restoration of wetlands in the Western Cape. It is supported by the Departments of Environmental Affairs and Water and Sanitation; Cape Nature, City of Cape Town, among others.
 
Learner were welcomed by Margo Adonis, the Miss Earth South African Ambassador. Adonis told learners that the older generation had failed them by failing to take proper care of the environment. The children were also welcomed by Denisha Anand (Princes Vlei Forum) and Kate Snaddon (Western Cape Wetlands Forum).
 
The learners were divided into groups, and rotated between six activity stations, which each gave them a different way of experiencing the wetlands.
 
A highlight for all the learners was the opportunity for a short canoe ride – this was provided by Gravity Adventures. After kitting up in life jackets and learning some principles of paddling, the children set out for a short paddle on the water – for many their first experience of being on a boat.

​Noloyiso Dlamini and other CapeNature educators used various filtration mediums to show how wetlands act effectively as filters to clean water.

The Cape Bird Club introduced the feathered members of the Princess Vlei community. Children were given an identification chart, and ciscussed the importance of birds in a wetland ecosystem. The children learnt how to use binoculars, and the birdclub members helped them to spot and identify birds from the charts. “The children showed great excitement when they could use the binoculars properly, but spent quite a lot of time looking at things not related to birds!! Fortunately others got very excited about the birds as well,” said Gillian Barnes of the CBC. 36 Species were spotted on the water or flying past, including Red-knobbed Coot, Egyptian Goose, Greater Crested Grebe, Common Moorhen, Great White Pelicans, Jackal Buzzards, Gulls, Herons, Cormorants and Terns and smaller birds that live in the reeds surrounding the vlei.

​The Cape Town Environmental Education Trust got the kids moving with a “Race to save the earth”. “Our aim was to make learners aware of the function of wetlands as habitats. Learners were also made aware of the human impacts and the possible solutions to not just wetlands but the environment as a whole. Learners enjoyed this game as it also opened their mind to other environmental issues.” Said Nondumiso Myataza. She was helped Phindile Gazu

​After a busy morning, the leaners were happy to sit under the trees and enjoy the Jungle Theatre’s performance of  the Python and the Qunube Tree.  Based on an African folktale, the story tells of  how the little tortoise saves the animals by breaking the cycle of the drought and freeing the Qunube berries for all the animals to eat. The play featured puppets, hilarious animal masks and beautiful singing, and was performed by Vincent Meyburgh, Siyawandisa Badi and Naledi Tlailane.

Children were given a burger from Abenaki Spur Steak Ranch  and a stationery pack from Shoprite before leaving.

​Speaking afterwards, Shafiek Isaacs of Lotus High School said, ‘The learners really loved the event – it was a great way to give them an experience of Princess Vlei and to learn something about the wetlands. So many of them now want to sign up with our eco-club.”
 
Sponsors for the event include the WWF-SA; Hans Hoheisen Charitable Trust, managed by Nedbank Private Wealth,  which funds the Princess Vlei Forum’s educational program;  Abenaki Spur Steak Ranch and the Grassy Park Spar. Shoprite donated stationery packs to participants.
 
Huge thanks to Shaddai Daniel-Harris & Phillip Frenzel for initiating and co-ordinating the event with the Princess Vlei Forum. Thanks also to all the many other volunteers who helped with the event.

Mrs Cicilia Johnson, who has spent 64 of her 88 years near the vlei, was also passionate about saving Princess Vlei, and was involved in planting milkwood trees at the vlei. She was very inspired by the natural beauty of the place, and wrote a moving poem to describe the pleasure the serenity of the vlei brought to her:
 
We offer our deepest condolences to Mrs Johnson, her children, and other family members. We have no doubt that the spirit of Mr Edward Johnson will continue to dwell on the banks of Princess Vlei.

​We know a lot more about toad activity around Princess Vlei, thanks to the members of the Lotus Princess Guardian Club who attended the overnight Western leopard Toad Camp at Princess Vlei Eco Centre
The learners were guided in their work by the Western Leopard Toad workbook that was created by the Forum’s environmental education team last year.
The eight learners gathered at the eco centre on the morning of December 12, and began with a door to door survey to discover how many neighbouring residents had spotted toads in their gardens. A number of residents reported toad activity. This survey not only gathered valuable data on toad numbers, but also helped to spread awareness of these vulnerable creatures amongst local residents. 

​After a lunch break, learners investigated the Greater Princess Vlei Conservation Area for breeding activity, and mapped out the data onto a map. A good session of alien clearing and litter picking worked up their appetites for an evening braai.
In the evening learners had the opportunity for a night walk with the Park rangers to spot the toads, which are most active at night. A number of toads were seen.
In the morning the learners discussed how they could raise awareness about the plight of the endangered toads, and encourage local residents to help save them by moving them off roads and watching out for them while driving.
These new toad scientists will be valuable in the battle to ensure the survival of one of Cape Towns most endearing creatures.