Winter Walks in World’s View

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A party of five went on a CREW outing to World’s View recently. Some of the grasslands in the conservancy had been burned several weeks ago and it was a good time to see the early emerging plants. Rogan Roth took this pic of the group.

Crew party

Alison Young compiled this report and took the rest of the pictures.  Lots of magnificent Boophone disticha (Seerooglelie) were in flower. They flower much better after a fire. The Afrikaans name refers to the effects the pollen has if you get it into your eyes.

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Bright yellow Gnidia kraussiana plants brighten up the burnt veld in early spring.

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Rotheca caerulium or Wild Violets waiting to burst into bloom.

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Helichrysum alloides in bud.

IMG_5061 Helichrysum alloides or coriceum

Lots of Merwilla kraussii or Dwarf Scillas on the rocky crags above the grassland.

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A winter flowering Moraea hiemalis which flowers for a short spell in July.

IMG_5126Then on 31 July, Howard Richardson led the inaugural regular walk that World’s View will be hosting on the last Thursday of every month.

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The howling wind didn’t deter anyone as they set off to explore the grassland. IMG_0816

Among the plants they spotted was Aloe maculata Common Soap Aloe

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Many participants were astonished to discover this little know piece of wilderness right on their doorstep.

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Don’t miss the next World’s View Walk on 28 August – book your place with Howard on 083 591 0079. Donation R20 to world’s View Conservancy.

 

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About Midlands Conservancies Forum

Welcome to the Midlands Conservancies Forum Blog. The conservancy movement in South Africa has its roots in KZN Midlands with Balgowan being the first conservancy established in 1978 by landowners in the area who were concerned about the reduction in the number of game and general degradation of the environment. Today there are 14 conservancies within or overlapping the Umgeni Local Municipality. In keeping pace with international environmental issues and the ever-increasing threat to our dwindling biodiversity the conservancy movement has expanded its influence to include challenges way beyond the founding concerns for the reduction in game and general degradation of the environment. The fact of the matter is that, at the very least, the state of the environment in the KZN Midlands is of vitally and direct importance to well in excess of 3 million people who depend largely on this region for their fresh water. In terms of global the planet has 34 biodiversity hotspots which are the Earth’s most biologically rich and threatened areas. These hotspots hold especially high numbers of unique species, yet their combined area now covers only 2.3 percent of the Earth's land surface. South Africa is home to 3 of the 34 global biodiversity hotspots and the Midlands not only falls into the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany hotspot but is one of the 21 priority nodes that have been identified by the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund for investment aimed at securing existing biodiversity. The Midlands Conservancy Forum is proud to have been awarded a two year grant that has been used to establish the MCF Biodiversity Stewardship project that is working closely with KZN Wildlife. The reality of the Conservancy movement is that it has until know been championed by volunteers who are landowners and, in many cases, have precious little time and therefore this needs to be used to the maximum potential. This has lead to the establishment, and current success, of the MCF. It is an ideal forum to share knowledge, experiences and collectively tackle common issues in the most co-0rdinated and effective way possible. It is also a forum that has the capacity, through its landowner support base, geographical influence and biological inventory, to attract funding for critical environmental projects. It is also a forum for any and all government departments, NGOs and industries to engage with environmentally minded landowners. Through this blog we hope to promote the aims of the MCF in general and the sharing of information in particular. It is your platform to express and respond to ideas and concerns. Please use it wisely and respectfully!

3 thoughts on “Winter Walks in World’s View”

  1. David Clulow

    Many wildflower enthusiasts have been deep in their winter hibernation; so this early news of blooms seen as of late is welcome to all our wintry-frosted eyes. The smoke-filled air is not all to be disparaged as it hastens the promise of Spring. .

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