Lowveld Botanical Society celebrated their centenary

The Lowveld Branch of the Botanical Society (BotSoc Lowveld) wrapped up their Centenary year activities with a wonderful celebratory lunch in the Lowveld National Botanical Gardens (LNBG) on early in December.

A total of 80 guests, representing donors and sponsors over these many years, present and past staff of SANBI and present and past members of the Botanical Society, joined the party. The Nelspruit botanical community is relatively small but wide spread. It was delightful and rewarding that this occasion created an opportunity for guests to renew old friendships and establish new ones.

The LNBG was established 43 years ago on land donated by HL Hall & Son and the BotSoc Lowveld shortly thereafter. The late Elro Braak donated the funds for the main gate. Many old BotSoc members who worked tirelessly to raise funds for a variety of facility improvements, graced us with their presence as did Hugh Hall. He, together with his late wife Dorothy, were regular and keen supporters and sponsors of LNBG. Representatives of donors were Tsogo Sun, Education Centre and Manganese Metal Corporations. SAPPI who donated the Rain Forest Infrastructure and Board walk were represented as were the Lions Club who sponsored the Blind Trail.

BotSoc Lowveld generated five projects this year. All of them were aimed at creating some type of legacy. Our actual role was one of facilitation, particularly in the form of raising funds. Given the size of LNBG and its staff, this is more than likely the role we will fulfil in the future.

The projects were firstly the implementation of the Tree Route where over 40 different tree species have been numbered and information boards erected at each example. The route takes visitors through the whole garden and includes three circular routes. This project was paid for by funds raised through SAPPI’s Annual Mother’s Day concerts and donated through BotSoc Lowveld. SAPPI also sponsored the explanatory booklet on each tree. The work to implement this project was undertaken by SANBI staff members Lou-Nita LeRoux and Willem Froneman.

The second project started 5 years ago when John & Sandie Burrows of Buffelskloof Trust donated the entire stock of 2,500 trees from the nursery that they were closing down. These have been sold off at the LNBG but there remains a great deal of stock, and a decision was implemented to donate at least 100 trees to schools in the Mbombela Local Municipality. Over 120 trees were donated to 30 of the 40 schools approached. The BotSoc Committee is still honouring requests from deserving causes.

An extension to the existing children’s playground in the LNBG has been on our agenda for nearly ten years. Using funds from a bequest by the late Sy & Marion Symons, R 180,000 was allocated to a four stage project to implement this extension. The first stage, a composite wooden jungle gym, was completed late November. The remaining stages will be completed this year.

Another long planned project was the honours board, where donors and sponsors could be named and thanked. Using internally generated funds, two boards, one for each entrance, were completed in time to be shown at the Centenary Luncheon.

The fifth and final project was to host the Centenary Luncheon in the Red Leaf Fig Tea Garden in the midst of the LNBG. All agreed it was a fitting wrap up of our Centenary celebrations held in, what all guests present believe, is the best Botanical Garden in South Africa.

This does not stop here, LNBG has big plans for the future. BotSoc Lowveld Committee has asked the LNBG curator, Taki Mamatsharaga for a project which will define his legacy. SANBI owns a considerably larger portion of property than the area that has been developed to date. The legacy that Taki wants to leave is to develop a further eight hectares of garden on the Northern Banks of the Crocodile River that flows through the LNBG. There will be a great deal of scope for BotSoc projects.

From a BotSoc perspective, their dreams are to become more involved in Conservation projects such as CREW, to grow our membership base and to offer members, as far afield as Komatipoort & Middleburg and Piet Retief & Hoedspruit, which are both five hours apart.