What 2021 looked like for the Melville Koppies
MELVILLE – The nature reserve shares on the year that was 2021 and some of their challenges.
The festive season is here and as this time is that of reflection, the Melville Koppies Nature Reserve shares with us their successes and challenges of 2021.
Its manager, Wendy Carstens, said for her, every Sunday on the koppies is one of the year’s highlights as nature continually paints new scenery for all to enjoy.
As we are in the festive season, she advised residents to get out into nature – albeit fun to socialise and party, expenses seem to soar in this season, but being out in nature helps one destress in this busy time. “A walk-about in nature at Melville Koppies every Sunday morning will recharge batteries.”
For the koppies, your safety is important so during this time, and always, they take precautions to ensure this. When asked if the reserve had a hero they wanted to highlight Carstens simply said the whole committee has been wonderful this year.
Each member has contributed in his/her field of expertise and interest. We now write weekly articles for the local community papers, we have developed a 5km trail and a self-guided heritage trail which gives details of the koppies’ rich history.”
She added for the kids they have a photo treasure hunt sheet for them to identify treasures on their walks.
They did face some financial challenges this year, however, a special thank you was given to Friends of Melville Koppies who are said to have made regular donations.
Along with them, Carstens shared the koppies would not be the same without a conservation team of three full-time workers and another who works one day a week.
Together with Carstens, they manage the koppies environmentally as they continually remove invasive alien plants, burn firebreaks to protect neighbouring houses and do controlled burning to preserve the areas of grassland which are so under threat in Gauteng.
