The Herbarium is one of many very successful projects of the Pearly Beach Conservation Society. It is currently housed in a small wooden Wendy house at the entrance to Pearly Beach, on the left hand side of the road. This serves as an exhibition area as well as a storeroom for dried species. Visitors and residents are all welcome to come and take a look, and will be pleasantly surprised by the exhibits.

The Herbarium was established with the view to conserve and protect the rich diversity of indigenous plants in the area. With nothing more than a love of indigenous plants, the task to establish a Herbarium was given to local resident Heilie Mostert, and a few willing volunteers. In the past few years many plant species have been identified, described, pressed, filed and conserved. New plant species are identified and exhibited, and the samples are refreshed on a weekly basis. This enables people to identify the shrubs and flowers growing in their own gardens. Indigenous and alien plants can be differentiated, advice on suitable plants to attract more birds can be obtained and the reasons for planting or not planting aliens is given.

The Pearly Beach Conservation Society is also busy negotiating with the Overstrand Municipality to obtain permission to establish a fynbos garden on the erf on which the Wendy house is currently situated. The need for such a garden has increased as more private erven are developed. As some plants are very rare and nearly extinct, it has become critically important to replant these species in a safe place. There is also a great need to house the exhibition in a larger more permanent structure. If you would like to help with funding, please contact us.