Only four days after setting up two cameras at Grootbos in the Western Cape’s Overberg region, Jeannine McMannus of the Landmark Foundation (www.landmarkfoundation.org.za) has confirmed what we have all been hoping for. LEOPARD!!!  Click here to read more from Grootbos.

At the same time we walked through the garden where there are cultivated beds. We saw beds with spinach, beetroot, barley etc. The bed borders are created by old bricks found in the garden. She also showed us how she had planted potatoes with cardboard, then organic matter, manure and mulching. They used compost made from food scraps and yard waste. They designed their own dam and drip irrigation as well.

Another interesting thing we were shown is that they are building a guest house and a house where the soup will be made for the guests. The houses are made up of the clay bricks they made themselves. We saw the pile of clay soil, the bricks and the machine they use to make the bricks. After the garden tour, we walked up to the big dam and across a river to the waterfall!

The ladies had a wonderful time and learnt a lot about the excursion.

They gave a very big thank to Dianne and she will give lessons once a week about gardening and permaculture at the Growing the Future Project!

Alien Clearing on Flower Valley Conservation Trust's land

With the imminent onset of spring, its great to give a very quick report on happenings in the WBFC! The long awaited radio system is in its final stages of installation, and within the next couple of weeks, those members that are becoming part of the network will be live on air!  The repeater has been placed on one of the highest points in the conservancy, and this system will be a huge improvement to the communication network between landowners. 

 The R 200 000 grant that we have received from Landcare and the Departement of Agriculture is well on its way to being chopped up, sawn down and hacked out. Lomond finished their allocation with great speed and precision, and Flower Valley followed close behind. Danie de Villiers and his team have also showed great commitment in clearing riverbanks of their property Helderfontein. The other farms committed to the project are hard at work, an were hoping that by showing our willingness to use these funds, we will be in a good position to apply for further funding soon!

Honey Badger found on Wolwefontein

Here is a lovely photos taken by Italo on their farm Wolwefontein: The Honey Badger is a rarely seen yet amazing animal. The scourge of beekeepers, due to their appetite for honey and destructive way of ripping hives open to get it, these animals are also voracious carnivores. Snakes, scorpions, lizards and insects all fall prey to the honey badger, but they have also been known to hunt rabbits, hares, small buck and crocodiles up to 1m in length!

It is said that even lion are hesitant to attack a mature badger, due to the fact that their loose skin allows them to turn their body almost completely inside its skin, and sink its teeth into their attacker.   Thanks Italo, for the lovely photos, isn’t it great to see the amazing nature that we are all privileged to be a part of in the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy.