What’s coming up?

The Kirstenbosch Branch of the Botanical Society is a hub of conservation activity. We have regular events that you can join.

Sunday 9th February: Red Disas in Vaalkat Ravine

This is always a popular all day outing.

Meet at 8am in the Cecilia carpark from where we will walk up to the contour path to see the Red Disas in Vaalkat Ravine just above the contour path. From there we will continue our walk to Window Gorge returning to Cecilia carpark on a lower path. Duration 3 hours

Leaders to be confirmed.

Sunday 16th March:Spes bona/ Echo Valley above Kalk Bay.

Meet at 8.30 am at the Main Rd/Boyes Drive intersection to swap cars.

We should see Haemanthus coccineus in bloom in the forest. Reasonably strenuous. Duration 4 hrs.

Sunday 13th April: Silvermine

Meet at 9am in the parking area on your left just after having entered the main Silvermine gate. Walk to the summit of Spitskop overlooking the Noordhoek Valley.

Duration 3.5 hrs.

Sunday 11th May: Rhodes Memorial

Meet at 9am at Rhodes Memorial for an easy walk which will include both the Queens and Kings blockhouses.

Duration 3 hrs.

Sunday 22nd June: Sandy Bay

Meet at 9am at the Sandy Bay carpark on the Hout Bay side of Llandudno.

Circular walk along the coast to the point. Duration 3.5 hours

Sunday 13th July: Suikerbossie

Meet at the carpark at the Suikerbossie turnoff at 9am.

Walk up to and along the contour path to Myburgh’s Ravine and back.

Duration: 3.5 hours.

Sunday 17th August: Silvermine

Meet at 9am at the Silvermine Dam carpark.

Duration 3.5 hrs.

Sunday 14th September: Tygerberg hills

Meet at 9am at the Tygerberg Nature Reserve Carpark. There is a small entrance fee payable. Lovely spring flowers. Duration 3 hours.

Sunday 19th October: Cecilia Waterfall

Meet at 9am in the Cecilia carpark. Parking can be challenging so arrive earlier so that we can commence our walk promptly. Duration 3 hours.

Sunday 16th November: Cape Point

Meet at the Cape Point gate at 9am. The route will be chosen on the day depending on the conditions. Duration 7 hours. Bring lunch.

Sunday 7th December: Newlands Forest

Meet at 8am at Rhodes Memorial. Walk from Rhodes Memorial into Newlands Forest. Duration 3.5 hrs.

What do our conservation activities entail?

Hacks

– Our invasive alien hacking programme

The BotSoc Kirstenbosch Branch implements an invasive alien clearing or ‘hacking’ programme around the periphery of the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Stalwart member Tom Robbins was our ‘hack’ leader. He encourages our enthusiastic and energetic volunteers to meet in all weather conditions to remove gums, black wattle and other dreaded invasive species. Our volunteers met once a month on a Saturday morning – and the results over the years have proven to be phenomenal. We are currently recruiting a new volunteer hack leader.

HIKES

– Botanical hikes for BotSoc Kirstenbosch members

Our projects aim to provide education about the world we live in, and how our plant life is the basis of all life. As such, we run botanical hikes for members led by experienced botanists and environmental scientists such as Tony and Pat Rebelo, as well as Dirk Muller.

Through these hikes, our members learn about our plant life, and what makes the Cape Floral Kingdom so special.

CREW

– Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers

CREW is a network of citizen scientists supported by BotSoc who collect data on plant species of conservation concern to develop plans to protect them. You can join these CREW outings, to help find, identify and collect information on these species.

FIND OUT MORE

BIOBLITZ

– Participate in a BioBlitz

A BioBlitz is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time.

At a BioBlitz, scientists, families, students, teachers and other community members work together to get a snapshot of an area’s biodiversity. Watch our website and social media for details of upcoming Bioblitzes.