Bridge over murky Glenholme swamp now open
The bridge was officially opened by Peter Purnell, chairman of Luther Field Trust and WESSA chairman, Alan Job.
THE third bridge over the swamp forest in the Glenholme nature reserve in the grounds of the Kloof and Highway SPCA is now complete and open.
The bridge was officially opened by Peter Purnell, chairman of Luther Field Trust and WESSA chairman, Alan Job, during a small ceremony on Tuesday, 1 August.
The building of this new bridge came after two years of planning and fund-raising.
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The trail now goes past the SPCA paddocks where cattle, horses, and donkeys are cared for, then to the grasslands, along the edge of the gorge before crossing the bridge over the stream where it tumbles down the sheer drop into the gorge.
The path then crosses the road and enters the forest area where the second bridge is situated but now continues along one side of the stream to the new bridge, over the swamp area, (no need to get your feet wet) then back along the other side, and then the choice of exiting or to follow the path up through the forest to the gate opposite the SPCA main office.
A guided walk has been arranged for the second Saturday of each month starting from the SPCA Tea Room at 10am.
It is easy walking, level ground (except for a short section on either side of the bridge over the waterfall which can be by-passed).
This is a special area, one of very few coastal swamp forest areas left in South Africa.
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Don Hastings, who built the bridge with his staff, said it took them three weeks to build it as they had to take down the old one.
A special thank you was made to the Luther Field Trust, Kloof Conservancy, the Model Railway Society, Highway Branch of WESSA, and members of the community for their generous donations to build the bridge.
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