While we witness inspiring footage of South Africans standing together to clean up after the riots in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, we have the perfect opportunity for you to help restore our beloved South Africa. And this is through our active restoration work at Tokai Park!
What is "active" restoration and why is it necessary? Following the clearing of alien trees in fynbos, the vegetation is sometimes able to recover spontaneously from seeds banked in the soil. This tends to be the case when the damage hasn't been too severe, or been going on for too long. When this isn't the case, some groups in the vegetation need a little help to return, like the Proteas. This is where active restoration, in this case planting, comes in. Not just any old plant can be planted in a restoration planting, a huge amount of work goes into sourcing local seeds, so that we don't end up with a bad case of Frankenflora. The prep for this day is extensive! Thank you to our partners at SANBI and Kirstenbosch for all your months of hard work leading up to this event!
We have a few slots open for volunteers to join us for this exciting event on Tuesday. We will be planting almost 800 plants in three management blocks at Tokai Park. Please e-mail t.rebelo@sanbi.org.za to book a spot. Please note that numbers may be limited or the event called off, in which case those signed up will be informed by email on the morning of the event.
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In the words of Margaret Kahle:
What better way to participate in Mandela Day 2021 than "by being part of this very important phase in the restoration of what is well on the way to becoming a flagship example of the successful return of the rich natural biodiversity to an area previously transformed by human activity."
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Covid-19 rules apply:
- Don’t come if you have temperature or any Covid-19 symptoms.
- Wearing a mask is compulsory.
- Wash hands.
- Keep a safe distance.
Requirements:
- Please bring your own hand trowel, and if desired, gloves. No other tools are required. No spades!
- Please sterilize all equipment before coming (Jik, Dettol or strong soap, as you wish).
- It will be raining: this is desirable for restoration planting. Therefore bring suitable rain gear and protection for 3-4 hours work. But it wont be raining as hard as over the following 48 hours, for which you do not need to stay, but that is why we are planting now.
- No issues if you need to leave early, but no late-comers please.
- Covid-19 screening and programme briefing will be at 9am sharp.
- No dogs.
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