Die hoofdoel van hierdie halfjaarlikse nuusbrief is om beter kontak met lede te maak en hulle meer op hoogte te bring met al die aksies wat gedurende die jaar plaasvind. Weens verhoogde posgeld, is dit egter nie moontlik om die nuusbrief te pos nie en sal dit net per e-pos versprei word - dus 'n vriendelike versoek om die nuusbrief aan alle belangstellendes beskikbaar te stel.     <<Back

The principal aim of this bi-annual newsletter is to maintain contact with members of the society as well as to keep everyone informed of events that took place during the year. Unfortunately due to increased postage, the newsletter will only be sent to members via e-mail — thus a friendly request to make the newsletter available to all interested parties.     <<Back

Firstly, thanks to all members who made the effort to attend the AGM on 21 December 2005. Our 2 guest speakers performed a sterling task, namely Sean Privett from Grootbos Private Nature Reserve with his talk on the successes of their exciting project, Green Futures and Rob Fryer from the Overstrand Conservation Foundation with details on steps to be taken to declare Pearly Beach a conservation village or conservancy. The Conservation Society and the Ratepayers' Association will take hands to discuss all the necessary steps for declaring Pearly Beach a conservation village, e.g. a public participation process and how to reach all residents of the whole area. You will be kept up to date with this project.     <<Back

Op Saterdag 14 Januarie 2006 het die Bewaringsvereniging in samewerking met Birdlife Walker Bay die strande en kuslyn van Pearly Beach van die westelike toegangspad na die see tot by die karavaanpark skoongemaak - 'n groot dankie aan die 24 vrywilligers wat opgedaag het om ons met hierdie groot taak te help. Die projek was deur julle deelname 'n reuse sukses.     <<Back

On Saturday 14 January 2006 the Conservation Society together with Birdlife Walker Bay organised a beach cleanup, from the access road near the beach on the west side, all the way to caravan park. A big thank you to the 24 volunteers who pitched in to help with this mammoth task. The project was a great success due to your participation.     <<Back

The CleanMarine project has been conceived locally and is aimed at developing sustainable mitigating measures to address the adverse effect that marine pollution has on marine life in general and birds in particular. CleanMarine is a pilot study that will be developed in the Overberg and will hopefully later be implemented along the entire South African coastline. The main project partners are BirdLife South Africa, represented by BirdLife Overberg and BirdLife Walker Bay, CapeNature, Coastcare, Dyer Island Cruises and the Overstrand Municipality. Two campaigns are being launched: (1) The voluntary cleaning of stretches of coastline, that includes the statistical analysis of litter collected; (2) A campaign to get fishermen to bring litter found at sea and their own waste back to shore. We invite all volunteers to contact us at birding @ overberg.co.za. It now seems evident that we are going to need all the help we can get.

Locally, Warren Rutherford is the project leader. The whole coastline of Pearly Beach has been divided into sections and we are looking for volunteers to pick up litter in each section on a regular basis. The necessary forms that need to be completed, as well as refuse bags will be provided. Please contact Warren on 028 - 381 9596 should you want to be part of this project.     <<Back

HERBARIUM: Die Overstrand Munisipaliteit het uiteindelik, na 'n baie lange onderhandelingsproses, toestemming verleen dat 'n permanente herbariumstruktuur opgerig kan word op 'n gedeelte van Erf 1780 waar die huidige herbarium staan. Daar het 'n behoefte aan 'n terrein vir 'n fynbostuin het ontstaan sodat bedreigde inheemse fynbosspesies op veral privaat onbeboude erwe, met die eienaar se medewete uitgehaal en op 'n beskermde terrain hervestig kan word, voordat die persele ontwikkel word. Hierdeur word verseker dat die spesies nie uitsterf en verlore raak nie. Die herbarium het 'n drieledige funksie, naamlik dat vars plantmateriaal op 'n weeklikse basis geidentifiseer en uitgestal word om die publiek meer bewus van die inheemse fynbos te maak. Verder word voorbeelde van alle fynbos wat in die gebied voorkom, gedroog, geïdentifiseer en gedokumenteer om sodoende 'n volledige databasis van die fynbos op te stel. En 'n verdere baie belangrike funksie wat die herbarium verrig, is natuurlik 'n inligtingsfunksie, asook opleiding en opvoeding van die plaaslike gemeenskap en die skole. Dit dien as vertoonvenster vir die Bewarings-vereniging.     <<Back

HERBARIUM: After a lengthy negotiation process, the Overstrand Municipality has finally given permission for the erection of a permanent structure to house the Herbarium. It will be built on a section of Erf 1780, where the present Herbarium now stands. There has arisen the need to set aside a site for a fynbos garden, where threatened fynbos species, especially from private undeveloped plots, can, with the owner's knowledge, be removed and placed in a protected environment before the plot is cleared / built on. This will ensure that the species won't die out and become extinct. The Herbarium's function is threefold. Firstly, fresh plant material is collected on a weekly basis, identified, and put on show, making the public more aware of the indigenous fynbos. Secondly, samples of all fynbos found in the area are dried, identified and exhibited and in so doing a complete database of fynbos is formed. And thirdly, the Herbarium plays an important part as a source of information, as well as training and educating the local community and schools. It serves as a showcase for the Conservation Society.     <<Back

HACKING PARTY: SATURDAY 16 DECEMBER 2006
We want to call on all members of the Society, as well as friends, family and residents to come and join the planned hacking party on Saturday 16 December 2006. The idea is to get a group of volunteers together and to make an active and aggressive effort to clear the public open spaces and frontal dune area of aliens. Come and join us for a day of hard labour and fun, all to the benefit of the environment! We will meet at 09:00 at the Parking Area in Rotunda Road, please bring along equipment, e.g. pruning shears and saws, as well as a hat and sun screen lotion - hope to see you all there!     <<Back

INHEEMSE BOME:
Kanferbos: (Tarchonanthus camhoratus) - groei sowat 6m hoog en word eintlik vir 'n struik aangesien. Met gereelde snoei om slegs een hoofstam te vorm, kan 'n netjiese boompie gekweek word. Plant hulle in komposryke plantgate en sommer na aan mekaar om die ergste wind af te keer, en gooi gereeld nat todat goed gevestig.
Smalbaar-mirt: (Metrosideros angustifolius) - 'n klein immergroen boom met blink, smal blaartjies; die ideale plaasvervanger vir die uitheemse Metrosideros-soorte. Dit kan met snoeiwerk in 'n mooi boompie gevorm word, maar is ook as heiningplant geskik.
Olienhout: (Olea europea subsp. africana) - mooi skaduboom met silwergroen blare en 'n netjiese ronde kroon. Gee genoeg water en kompos om vinnige groei aan te moedig.
Witmelkhout: (Sideroxylon inerme) - immergroen skaduboom, losieshuis vir voëltjies en die ideale boom vir kustoestande. Gee gereeld organiese kunsmis en water om vuur te maak onder hierdie tydsame boom.
Kusvaalbos: (Brachylaena discolor) - 'n wyd vertakte boom of woeste struik. Snoei maar van jongs af die lae sytakke weg om 'n boomvorm te bewerkstellig.
       - Die Burger     <<Back

INDIGENOUS TREES:
Camphor bush, Kanferbos: (Tarchonanthus camphoratus) - grows to a height of about 6 meters, but is grown mainly as a shrub. With regular pruning to create a single trunk, a neat little tree can be formed. Plant them in composte-rich holes, closely spaced to form a windbreak, and water regularly until established.
Lance-leaf myrtle, Smalblaarmirt: (Metrosideros angustifolia) - a small evergreen tree with shiny, small leaves: an ideal substitute for the alien Metrosideros (myrtle) varieties. With pruning it can be grown into an attractive tree, but is also good as a hedge plant.
Wild olive, Olienhout: (Olea europea subsp. africana) - attractive shade tree with silver-green leaves and a neat round crown. Give saplings enough water and compost to encourage fast growth.
White milkwood, Witmelkhout: (Sideroxylon inerme) - evergreen shade tree, attracts birds, and perfect for coastal conditions. Feed with organic fertiliser and water on a regular basis to kick-start growth.
Silver oak, Kusvaalbos: (Brachylaena discolor) - an expansive tree or an unruly shrub. Start pruning the lower branches early to encourage upward growth into an attractive tree.
      - Die Burger     <<Back

AGM: Please note that the AGM will be held on Wednesday 20 December 2006 at 10:00 in the NG Church Hall, Pearly Beach. Anne Bean, a famous botanist and writer will be our guest speaker.     <<Back

This is your Society and the success or failure of this Society will depend largely on inputs from you as members. Please feel free to contact any of the Management Committee members with suggestions or proposals on ways and means to promote the actions of this Society.

Elrina Versfeld
Voorsitter/Chairperson
Tel 021 - 850 4107     <<Back