Support Glenwood’s urban nature reserve

BEREA residents are urged to support one of Durban’s gem nature reserves, Pigeon Valley.

This small urban nature reserve in Glenwood has remarkable biodiversity. It is home to two rare tree species, the Natal Elm and Natal Forest Loquat, the endangered Spotted Ground-Thrush and the rare Short-barred Sapphire butterfly.

Crispin Hemson, chairperson of the Friends of Pigeon Valley, said priorities for the Friends of Pigeon Valley in 2019 include lobbying the Natural Resources Division of the eThekwini Metro on three key issues which included replacing the existing fence with a new fence at the top of the bank.

“The replacement has been promised by Natural Resources since 2005. The costs from the failure to replace it became evident a year ago when a woman was lured down the bank and murdered. We also aim to relocate some of the Red Duikers. The numbers have grown rapidly, to around 65, and duikers have taken to moving outside the reserve. Last month a pregnant duiker that had moved out of the reserve was killed by dogs. The relocation was announced late last year by Natural Resources, but action has not yet been taken,” he said.

ALSO READ: Move to secure reserve fencing after women’s mutilated body is found

Crispin said the third issue was repairing the main track. He said erosion in recent years had made part of the track unsafe and there was an urgent need for reconstruction and ongoing maintenance.

“The Friends are involved in ongoing clearing of alien vegetation. Pigeon Valley is now largely free of invasive plants as a result of the persistent work done. The creeper Ipomoea indica, which used to the cover large areas of the park, is now hard to locate. The Friends also lead a monthly walk on the second Saturday of each month at 7.30am, that is open to the public,” he said.

The Friends are affiliated to the Durban Branch of WESSA. Those interested in joining as members should send their name and surname and contact email and phone number to friendsofpigeonvalley1@gmail.com. Membership is R120 and R30 for school learners and pensioners.

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