This is the 17th article 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 will be on the humans who visit the reserve.
So far the ‘riches of Pigeon Valley’ have focused on birds, plants, mammals and trees. There is also though the riches of the human dimension, of the different perspectives people bring, and of the learning that takes place in the reserve.
I quite often get to lead a group around the reserve, occasionally school groups, very often those on our monthly walks. This last weekend it was a group on the Durban Leadership Programme, DUT students and community activists, some of whom are environmentalists familiar with other natural areas. Since Durban has such high levels of biodiversity, there are significant differences.
It is fascinating what questions and comments arise in the minds of people. The best are the very young: ‘I have seen… I have seen… I have seen a blue spider.’ ‘Do you get elephants here?’ [‘I haven’t seen one here for a very long time.’] With adults, we very soon get to the question: ‘Are there snakes here?’
ALSO READ: Exploring Pigeon Valley: The Grey Waxbill
The most important things I want people to know are not the specific details of this tree or bird or mammal, but, first, the complexity of the life that is here in an urban reserve with all the pressures of the city. Secondly, that this complexity truly matters for us and our own survival, even if we don’t yet recognise it. And, thirdly, that we gain so much just from our presence here, connecting with such levels of diversity and variety, getting a sense of the peace and tranquillity that the reserve operates.
Of course, not all human activity is benign and beneficial. The most frequent question asked of me is how secure a visitor to the reserve is. There are no guarantees anywhere in a violent society, so I can only report my own experience. I do know of two muggings in the past two years within the reserve itself. I have never had a problem myself, and I spend much time alone in the reserve.
Crispin Hemson chairs the Friends of Pigeon Valley, a group that undertakes clearing of alien plants, keeps records of bird and mammal sightings and alerts management to any problems.
The Friends have a monthly walk at 7.30am on the second Saturday of each month. Email: friendsofpigeonvalley1@gmail.com.
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