Autumn and winter are the planting seasons at Princess Vlei - and we have certainly had some great rain to help the plants along. Here are two of the planting events ...

Earth Day Planting

Seven Earth enthusiasts gathered on Earth Day, April 22 to ‘kick off’ this year’s planting season at Princess Vlei. The volunteers, assisted by Neil and the restoration team,  braved the rain and cold to plant 300 plants and bulbs, and 800 oxalis seeds, in the Briana Crescent restoration plot on the Northern Shore. This plot has acidic sandy soil, allowing us to restore critically endangered Cape Flats Sand Fynbos.
The following plants were put in the ground.
Oxalis (seeds)
Pelargonium Triste
Cliffortia Ericafolia
Serruria Foeniculacae
Senecio foeniculoides
Elegia Nuda

Seep planting

On May 4, 46 learners from Floreat, Levana, Harmony and Lotus  gathered to plant in the seep area between Princess Vlei and Little Princess. In 2021, community volunteers helped to clear alien trees from this seasonal seep between the two vleis. Within months,  the area started coming back to life, with many indigenous species now being given space to grow. Recently, a new Red List species, Psoralea repens, was discovered there.
      The learners were adding to the biodiversity in the area by planting over 200 Elegia Nuda, as well as Psoralea glaucoma, Erica subdivaricata, Erica Verticillata and Berzelia abrotaoides. The elegia nuda are part of the restio  family. There are 480 species in the restio family - and 330 grow in the Cape Floristic Kingdom. They are very helpful plants, offering shelter to seedlings, a hunting ground for chameleons which can easily hold onto the slender stems, and food for small rodents.

“I am a dragonfly, and invertebrate insect. I eat insect larvae, tadpoles and dragonfly nymphs. I spend about two years under water, and breathe through gills in our backside. While we are still living under water, we need water and plants.”

This was the observation of one group of the 120 Floreat Grade Six learners, who came to explore Princess Vlei in April. The learners were divided into three focus activities, and rotated through the following activities:

• A canoe adventure to observe the life at the Vlei from the water
  
• A ‘Fynbos Treasure Hunt’
  
• A wetland habitat hunt

Before they went out hunting, they were reminded that they were visitors to the home of the creatures at Princess Vlei, and were reminded to:

• Treat all plants and animals with kindness, care and respect
  
• To move quietly, gently and slowly
• To release any creature that was caught as quickly as possible.

The canoeing was a highlight, as most of them had never had an opportunity to be on the water in a boat before. The Andrew, Jen and Jason  from Gravity Adventures ensured that they had a safe and happy experience.

In the fynbos treasure hunt, learners used their observational skills to spot treasures such as a creature that started life as a caterpillar but is now something else, a creature who uses its legs to sing, a seed that can fly, something that does not belong in the fynbos eco-system.  They were also asked to find their own treasure. Treasures they found included a ‘a yellow flower with lots of plants around it’ and ‘a large black and white feather’.

In the habitat hunt, learners were invited to explore the water and surrounds from the perspective of one of Princess Vlei’s creatures which interact strongly with the water. We gave them information on a dragonfly, a kingfisher, and leopard toad, but one group chose a fish and made some intelligent deductions from their own observations about what a fish might need in its habitat, and whether Princess Vlei provided for this.

The learners enjoyed catching fish to study for the project, and were particularly taken with a large carp which the caught. On one of the days, a local fisherman showed them an even larger carp, which was later released.

All learners identified plastic pollution, of which there is sadly far too much at Princess Vlei, as a threat to their species.

Teachers reported that the learners had a wonderful time, and were very inspired by the experience. We hope to host them again soon.
Thanks to Hans Hoheisen Charitable Trust managed by Nedbank Private Wealth for supporting our educational programs.