The vegetation in Brackenridge’s first two burn blocks has bounced back! Take a walk from the new reservoir along block 5, follow it down the new steps and across the Bitou Glade road and into block 6: along this route you will see the fruit of the effort of a few Brackenridge residents who volunteered to initiate and continue to maintain some restoration projects in a hands-on way. Their efforts have been supported by the estate’s maintenance teams and were co-ordinated by the ECO and the EMC.
The first of these projects was started immediately after the 7m deep pipeline trench along block 5 had been completed. First, two berms were shaped on the edge of the pathway and then planted with a selection of indigenous Fynbos plants.
In the next step a number of tree clusters was then established along the newly laid-out pathway. The estate made available funds for the plants and provided the compost; the actual planting was done by volunteers Angela and Debbie who were in part assisted by the Home from Home team.
Both berms in block 5 are now regularly weeded, and temporary water pipes have been installed so that interested residents from adjoining properties can assist with the watering that will be required until the summer heat subsides. Thank you to our residents Adrian, Lisa, Marie and Francois for their help with this task – much appreciated!
The next project undertaken was the thinning out of Bitou vegetation and the planting of another tree cluster in block 6 – a project spearheaded by our volunteer Debbie. Similar to the approach used by Angela in block 5, Debbie’s efforts are two-fold: a considerable amount of ‘hands on’ gardening by the volunteer and their privately paid gardening staff is occasionally assisted by the estate’s landscaping contractor when ressources can be made available. Also, the recent efforts by the AIS removal team have been of particular relevance in block 6 where Rooikrans, Port Jackson and Wattle sprung up immediately after the burn.
Finally, Brackenridge’s operations manager Eldred and his team have now reconstructed the steps leading down to Bitou Glade road at the end of the pathway. This could only be done once the necessary work on the pathway had been completed by the contractor responsible for the reservoir project (in the main: dealing with some deep sinkholes along the trench line, and re-compacting of the pathway itself). The final result is an aesthetically pleasing, easy-to-walk pathway with a few steps that lead up the embankment and zig-zag up the natural contour of the slope.
A big “Thank you!” to everyone involved, and in particular to our tireless volunteers Angela and Debbie who continue to dedicate a lot of time, own ressources and hands-on effort to help with the rehabilitation of some of the open natural areas that can now again be enjoyed by everyone!