Snare Aware grows Amanzimtoti indigenous forest

How many golf courses can claim to be a conservancy, that after golf matters, has as its main aim, to enhance the indigenous tree footprint of its course? With more than 2 000 new indigenous trees planted since it was registered as a conservancy in 2002, the Amanzimtoti Country Club can.

“We also strive to eliminate alien and invasive trees, and bush at the same time,” said co-ordinator Ted Holden.
The forest grew even more at the weekend when the Snare Aware group members planted their trees on Saturday, 19 December. “Thanks to our amazing supporters, we managed to donate an incredible 72 trees to the Amanzimtoti Country Club and Conservancy’s (ACCC) reforestation project. Thank you so much to everyone who donated towards this critically important ecological restoration project. We are so excited about this, and this just once again shows the power of community.

“We have selected a highly diverse range of tree species that are endemic to the KZN coastal forest habitat. These include pioneer and climax species, as well as canopy and sub canopy trees to ensure that our forest is structurally and ecologically sound to look after itself for centuries to come,” said the group’s spokesperson.

As a conservancy, ACCC is constitutionally linked with others in the area, such as Amanzimtoti Conservancy, with Rev Andrew Manning as chairman. Being very busy, he has delegated local artist Gill van Wyk, who is also a life time member of ACCC, to work with Ted. Researcher Pieter du Plessis, the chairman of the Bluff and Yellowwood Conservancy, is an ex officio member as well.

READ ALSO: Push to get trails established in Amanzimtoti’s indigenous forest

“Not many courses can claim to have a greenkeeper like Nico Vogel, who since being appointed, has done wonders for our golfing section. At the same time, he is closely involved in conservancy as his eldest son holds a master’s degree in ecology with two of his dissertations recognised internationally,” said Ted. To ensure continuity of the conservancy from someone in the neighbourhood, Bruce Sermon, an Athlone Park resident, is busy with his master’s degree in environmental science and is also a lifetime member of ACCC.

Along the side of some fairways and the Ezimbokodweni River, where reeds and alien tress have been replaced with indigenous trees since 2002, these have now formed walking trails or are in the process of creating more trails. “It is to our club’s social benefit to have these facilities to provide the surrounding community with a safe place to walk on a Sunday morning. These trails are clearly marked and some trees will be numbered, so that interested walkers can identify the different types.

What is of importance is that the course can now be recognised as not only as a golfing venue, as our club is striving to become more than just a sporting venue. It is now a vital and needed community asset, where our suburbs are being denuded of trees. Now many in the community will be able to claim some ownership, being involved in establishing small family or group forests,” said Ted.

All ACC members, social and conservancy members, and family groups with a forest will have at least one of their groups as a member. These groups, like the Rotarians and motorbikers, have a forest area and more to come in 2021. For the cherry on the top, the Amanzimtoti Rotary Club is planning a maze or labyrinth in the forest for next year.

READ ALSO: Snare Aware continues its good work in Amanzimtoti

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