Exploring Pigeon Valley: The surging creepers

The riches of Pigeon Valley Nature Reserve explained by Crispin Hemson, Glenwood resident and chair of the Friends of Pigeon Valley. This is the 119th in an ongoing series that highlights the riches of Pigeon Valley, the urban nature reserve in the heart of Glenwood. The focus of this article is on the rapid growth of creepers.

Gradually, over time, creepers seem to be advancing in Pigeon Valley. There are some tall canopy trees that remain uncovered by creepers, as the shade they generate and their height makes it hard for creepers to sustain themselves in the long journey up.

However, on the sunnier southern slopes, few trees are able to escape the almost total shrouding by creepers. Part of this has been the work of the alien Ipomoea indica, with its mauve-blue flowers, but, even where we have taken this out, other creepers immediately take its place.

Also read: Exploring Pigeon Valley: Fiscal Flycatcher

Thami Kunene, the acting head of Natural Resources Division, which takes responsibility for Durban’s nature reserves, recently discussed this issue with me. His view is that the extent of creeper growth is the result of climate change. Increased carbon in the atmosphere of course can stimulate the growth of all vegetation, but creepers are able to respond more rapidly to change. In addition, in my view, recent years have seen higher than normal rainfall much more often than lower rainfall. For example, for some years we have experienced significant winter rainfall, in contrast with the typically dry winters of the past. In dry periods, creepers often die back, while most trees have access to water at lower levels in the soil.

Also read:Exploring Pigeon Valley: Messy places in nature

In addition, higher temperatures often fuel rapid growth. Some creepers I encounter in Pigeon Valley grow remarkably rapidly.

Thami’s view is that our trees become very stressed by the extent of creepers, making them more vulnerable to disease and to aggressive pests such as the Polyphagous Shot-hole Borer. If this is the case, maybe management plans need to be revised to ensure that we do not sacrifice some of our most prized flora.

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