Cutting Firebreaks and Upcoming Cleanup

The coastal zone, 12 public open spaces and open zone nature reserve area in Pearly Beach are important to the Conservancy because they showcase our indigenous Strandveld and in some areas also Limestone Fynbos. We want these areas fire-wise and free of alien invasives to keep our village pristine and beautiful in nature!

Thanks to Gansbaai Municipality for helping us, and for coordinating the cutting of firebreaks in 5 of our open spaces in March. It was great that the removal of alien invasives from our road verges was also coordinated by them last November. Huge thanks to municipality contractor, team Weslo for performing all this work in such a helpful and excellent way!

As soon as the vegetation was cut to create firebreaks, we discovered huge amounts of litter, garden refuse and building rubble dumped in bushes. Dumping prevents new plants from shooting up, erodes the soil and is unpleasant to look at. Over time, it destroys the habitat of our indigenous vegetation, and no longer provides food and shelter for birds, small animals, insect pollinators and reptiles. Yet, nature is resilient and forgiving, it bounces back with a little bit of help from us.

Please join us on 10 April at 9h00 to clean up litter, garden refuse and rubble from Open Spaces on Spin Street and Perlemoendraai. We will meet at the Herbarium Fynbos Centre and organize ourselves from there. Please bring wheelbarrows and picks to chop up solid cement. Bring refuse bags (if you have), litter pinchers and best to wear your gardening gloves!