Financial woes for Melville Koppies
Everyone is battling rising costs, and the same is true of Melville Koppies Nature Reserve and Heritage Site and the adjacent Melville Koppies East (60ha altogether).
The city owns the space, cuts firebreaks and paths and provides 24-hour security at the Lecture Hut. However, it provides no funding for conservation management.
Since 1993, the NPO Friends of Melville Koppies (FOMK) has had a joint venture with City Parks to manage this land.
A team comprises three full-time conservation workers and one part-timer working under the supervision of Wendy Carstens, the chairperson of the FOMK.
They burn firebreaks, manage the endangered grassland so it doesn’t become a forest, maintain paths to stop them from eroding and rid the area of invasive plants threatening to smother the indigenous flora.
“Our monthly fixed expenses for labour, extra security, maintenance materials, are now R25 000 monthly,” said Carstens.
You can help FOMK reach its monthly target:
• Visit on a Sunday between 08:00 and 11:30 for a 5km hike, take the self-guided 3km heritage trail or follow any of the paths around the Koppies.
• Book a guided tour leaving at 08:00 sharp.
• Buy an annual season ticket for R500.
• Join an 8km heritage hike on September 24 across the Koppies (you must be fit).
• Sign up Melville Koppies as one of your My School beneficiaries.
• Take your junk to Junkies Charity Shop in Linden and specify MK as the beneficiary.
• Bring your school for an interactive learning experience.
For other ideas on how you can help, see https://www.mk.org.za/mkinvolve.htm
The reserve is open every Sunday from 08:00 to 11:30. Safe parking (opposite the Melville Koppies entrance) at Marks Park Sports Club in Judith Road, Emmarentia. Security on the Koppies is provided.
Entrance is R90 per person, R50 for U18s, and you can book your spot for a guided tour at R100 per person.
For more details, email wendavid@mweb.co.za, visit www.mk.org.za or visit the Facebook page.
