Making pond magic

Since early May, The Princess Vlei Forum has been bringing life back to the northern shore of Princess Vlei with the creation of a new seasonal pond (See A Heart Shaped Pond ), to help revive the magnificent seasonal wetland that once characterised Princess Vlei.
     This has been a group effort, with many hands helping to clear invasive species, revive indigenous plants that had been choked by grass and reeds, and plant indigenous species which were once abundant at Princess Vlei.

Crestway High Learners get their hand dirty planting out the seasonal pond

Planting benefits the plants, and the rich ecosystem that develops around the pound, including ducks, chameleons, frogs, insects, spoonbills and other waders, aquatic invertebrates and many others. But it also benefits all those who have the opportunity to get their hands in the soil and play a role in creating this flourishing life. This is particularly true for our young Princess Vlei Guardians. These experiences show them that you are never too young to help create a future where nature and humans, who are part of nature, can live harmoniously and flourish. They help to create an understanding of and love for the incredibly rich floral biodiversity in the fynbos kingdom, and spark their curiosity and kindness towards the many creatures who live in and around these ecosystems. A particularly exciting discovery has been the resident chameleons. 
      These are some of the planting events we have hosted this year, funded by the National Lotteries Commission.

On 30 May, in an event held in partnership with the Ingcungcu Sunbird Restoration Project,  twenty  Crestway high learners  planted 600 plants,  the following species: Zantedeschia aethiopica,  Elegia nuda,  Leucadendron laureolum, Imperata cylindrica, Berulea thunbergii, Watsonia tabularis, and Ehrharta calycina. Learners were taught about the importance of restoring wetland ecosystems and the role that seasonal ponds play within the broader freshwater system. They were taught how to plant indigenous species and how to idenitify the species that they were asked to plant.

On 16 June, 20 community members braved the rain and  dedicated Youth Day to helping create a better future for our youth. They put in nearly 300 plants, including Pelargonium triste,  Elegia nuda, Pelargonium cucculatum, Thamnochortus spicigerus. 

On 20 June, 32 children from Floreat and Harmony Primary put in 300 seedlings, as well as bag of rain daisies (dimorphotheca pluvials). Other species included Pelargonium Triste, Elegia Nuda, and the beautiful Wurmbea Stricta, or marsh flower. These learners too were given an understanding of how all life forms in the seasonal wetland work together, and how the plants they were putting in would contribute to creating a thriving ecosystem. 

Kamva and the CPUT volunteer team

In addition, for the past month Kamva Nose, our intern, has brought 27 students. Working in groups to 12,  from  CPUT to volunteer in clearing invasive plants and weeding our restoration sites. The students have also conducted insect, vegetation, bird, and frog surveys, and miniSASS surveys to assess the aquatic health of the vlei.  Kamva has helped to establish Princess Vlei as a great site for conservation students to develop their practice and get in volunteer hours.
    This exciting restoration project has been made possible with funding from the National Lotteries Commission, as well as the Hans Hoheisen Charitable Trust managed by Nedbank Private wealth, the Kirstenbosch Branch of the South African Botanical Society, and the Rowland and Leta Hill Trust.