THE 10-hectare Pigeon Valley Nature Reserve in the heart of Glenwood is receiving its fair share of dedicated attention now that it has been identified as a rolemodel for other natural areas in the city. This is largely due to the successful partnership between the management of Natural Resources, the metro division responsible and the Friends of Pigeon Valley, a network of local residents who connect with the reserve.
It is now being seen as a role model for other natural areas in the city, largely because of the successful partnership between the management of Natural Resources, the Metro division responsible, and the Friends of Pigeon Valley, the network of local residents who connect with the reserve.
A breakthrough has been the development of a formal agreement between Durban Water, which manages the reservoir adjacent to the reserve, and Natural Resources.
Crispin Hemson, chairperson of the Friends, explained that this addresses the vegetation on the reservoir. “Durban Water has agreed to mow only those areas that specifically need it, allowing the grassland to grow to full height. This means we will have coastal grassland as well as coastal forest,” he said.
He said the approach had led to a rich array of flowers on the reservoir, which now attracted some birds seldom seen locally, like the red-backed Shrike and Little Bee-eaters. Natural Resources, assisted by Friends of Pigeon Valley, are taking responsibility for the removal of invasive plants in the reservoir as well as in the park itself.
Alien clearing is a major activity for the Friends, who use their funds to pay for some of the work. While this is a demanding task, most of the reserve is now free of invasive alien plants.
“The aim of the alien clearing is to enhance the remarkable biodiversity of this park, which has two of South Africa’s rarest trees, the Natal Elm (Celtis mildbraedii) and the Forest Loquat (Oxyanthus pyriformis). There are about 100 locally indigenous tree species in the park, compared to about 33 in the whole of the British Isles. For the same reason, the management has now cut back some of the trees and shrubs on the southern slope, to keep intact a small grassy area especially for seed-eating birds,” said Hemson.
Management is also making some specific improvements, such as repairs to the main track and to benches.
The Friends have had a second tree labelling event to improve the public understanding of the species in the park. They are also working in surrounding areas and support an initiative to develop indigenous planting along the road islands of Lena Ahrens Road, to provide natural links between Pigeon Valley and Bulwer Park.
In the longer term, the Friends are hoping to put up signage to explain the significance of the natural life of the park, and to find other ways to enhance the educational value of the reserve.
“We feel this reserve is a rolemodel for collaboration between local residents and municipal management. We have been planning events jointly with management and notifying them of problems to be addressed. There is always something new here – for example, new sightings of unusual birds, or a rare creeper that we have missed. This year for the first time we had evidence that Green Twinspots are breeding in the reserve,” said Hemson.
The Friends have a monthly walk on the second Saturday of each month, starting at 7.30am at the Pigeon Valley entrance.
