Sean Privett is passionate about fynbos and has made it his mission to conserve and protect the Cape Floral Kingdom while sharing his vast knowledge with others. This drive has earned him a reputation both locally and internationally as a leader in plant focused conservation projects. After receiving his Master's Degree in Botany and Environmental Science from UCT, Sean became Conservation Manager at Grootbos Nature Reserve near Gansbaai and has helped initiate numerous projects together with Grootbos founder Michael Lutzeyer. The two have walked a long road together, with Sean being instrumental in establishing both the Green Futures Horticulture and life skills program and the Growing the Future organic farming projects at Grootbos. He also runs the nonprofit Grootbos Foundation.
Sean has received numerous conservation awards through the years, including a Whitley Award in London. He has assisted in the establishment of the flora display at the celebrated Eden Project in Cornwall (UK), played a pivotal role in establishing the 12 500 hectare Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and designed the Fynbos Sustainable Harvesting Program for the Flower Valley Conservation Trust.
The Fynbos Ecoscapes team are a small close-knit group led by Sean’s right-hand man, foreman and Green Futures college graduate, Khosi Maboka.
Botanical assessments
The Fynbos Ecoscapes team undertake botanical assessments for the planning processes of developments in the Overberg region of the Western Cape.
Search and Rescue and on-site plant propagation
Fynbos Ecoscapes makes it their mission to search and rescue indigenous plants that have horticultural value from development sites. The selected plants are propagated and stored in the nursery, after which they are used for rehabilitation work back on the site once development is completed. The team also specialise in the selection and propagation of appropriate on-site species to be used for landscaping and restoration on later projects.
Indigenous plant nursery
Fynbos Ecoscapes sources plants from the Overberg fynbos and tree nursery at Flower Valley as well as from the Green Futures nursery at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve. A wide variety of indigenous fynbos, plants and trees are available at wholesale prices directly to the public with a delivery service available.
Landscaping and restoration
With more than fifteen years worth of hands on experience in indigenous and water-wise gardening, Sean's focus is on recreating natural indigenous gardens, specialising in locally sourced indigenous coastal plants. Trained graduates from the Green Futures project work together in a highly qualified landscaping team on projects across the Cape Peninsula, with recent work including the Wildekrans Wine Estate in Bot River and the Romansbaai Beach and Fynbos Estate on the Danger Point Peninsula. Sean also offers a maintenance program as an extra service.
Fynbos roof gardens
The team at Fynbos Ecoscapes are knowledgeable and experienced in the creation and construction of fynbos roof gardens. This is a highly specialised field and the team works closely with architects in planning these projects.