Grootbos Foundation Monthly Update | October 2023

02 November

General

Grootbos Foundation October Update

Our team at the Grootbos Foundation had a busy October. Our ongoing efforts in community empowerment and our entrepreneurship programs have focused on sharing knowledge and providing support to foster the growth of small businesses. The fynbos and wildlife continue to flourish under the watchful eyes of our conservation team.

Restoring Walker Bay Nature Reserve |  Dune Clearing Success

The dune clearing project within the Walker Bay Nature Reserve is progressing smoothly thanks to the dedicated efforts of two teams, each consisting of ten diligent women. These teams have seized the opportunity to clear the area of invasive plants while they are still in their relatively small and manageable stage. 

This particular dune area was scorched by a fire in 2022, creating a unique window of opportunity during this winter to tackle the invasive species before they could regrow into a size that would demand significantly more human labour to control. We can't wait to see how this restoration area recovers, given this excellent opportunity to remove the invasive species.
 

Queen's Inspiring Journey | A Vetkoek Entrepreneur

Meet Queen, a remarkable woman whose journey with the Grootbos Foundation has been nothing short of extraordinary. In 2017, she embarked on a successful venture, establishing her own vetkoek business. Building on this achievement, she pursued her passion for learning, enrolling in Business Studies and Computer courses at Cape College.

Today, Queen is in the final stages of her Workplace Experience program, taking place at Gansbaai Academia's Computer Lab. This invaluable experience forms an integral part of our Employability Programme, further equipping Queen with the skills and knowledge she needs to excel in her chosen field.

Celebrating Julie Cheetham | Change Maker of the Year

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Julie Cheetham, our esteemed director, for her remarkable achievement as the Change Maker of the Year at the prestigious Regenerative Travel 2023 Impact Awards. This well-deserved recognition fills us with immense pride.

The Impact Awards serve as a tribute to individuals and initiatives that exemplify the essence of regeneration, elevating the quality of human lives, enriching our communities, and fostering positive transformation in the world.

Empowering Youth Through Canoeing | A Triumph in Sports Development

Our Sports Development Program has successfully enlisted ten young enthusiasts to participate in our Stanford-based canoeing initiative. Our experienced senior paddlers serve as shining examples of the transformative power of sports development. They have not only excelled in their personal journeys but have also contributed to education, life skills, conservation, and fostering positive attitudes.

On top of these benefits, many of our senior paddlers have competed in regattas at the highest level, even representing South Africa overseas. We are focussing on building a new strong junior team who hope to enter their first regatta in November.

To become part of our junior canoeing program, our recruits were required to complete a fundamental swimming assessment. To facilitate this, our dedicated coaches used a private swimming facility in Stanford, generously made available by residents. This step played a vital role in building confidence among our new recruits when it came to water-related activities.

Controlled Burns | Enhancing The Fynbos Ecosystem

This week, our dedicated Fire Management Team successfully executed a controlled burn within the pristine Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy. This carefully orchestrated operation involved the controlled ignition of mature fynbos, which had received the requisite fire approval certificates.

This controlled burn is an integral component of our comprehensive regional fire management strategy. Its purpose is to create a mosaic landscape with distinct areas of vegetation that have undergone controlled burning, establishing critical barriers to impede the rapid spread of potential wildfires. Controlled burns such as these also contribute to the vitality of the fynbos ecosystem, bolstering the overall biodiversity in the area.

Grootbos Camera Traps | Unveiling Nature's Drama

Inspecting the motion sensor camera traps placed around Grootbos Private Nature Reserve consistently proves to be a gratifying aspect of our ongoing biodiversity survey conducted by the Conservation Research Unit. On occasion, as we meticulously sift through the multitude of captured photographs, we uncover unexpected treasures, such as the remarkable scene captured in this image.

Notice the mature boomslang and the feisty Cape Robin-chat seen in the photo. We are fairly certain the Cape Robin Chat was busy engaging in spirited chirping to chase the snake away from the area.

As we move towards the end of the year, we take immense pride in the dedication and hard work of our team. We are also deeply thankful for the unwavering support we've received from our committed staff, generous donors, and passionate volunteers.