Twenty eight volunteers the November monthly hack.. This was the sixth hack at Brodie Link to remove thousands of Rooikrans seedlings which have taken root since the January 2024 fire. Lifts were arranged from the R44 Cape Nature Field Ranger’s gate for those who didn’t want to risk taking their cars up the700m long jeep track to the hacking site parking area which had dried out significantly in October.
Ashley and Jonathan Beattie were welcomed to their first Betty’s Bay hack. We hope that this will be their first of many. Jonathan is a regular HH hacker and Ashley attended the HH hack at Honingklip on Heritage Day. We split into two groups, one tackled an area lower down and the other headed up the slope to the Port Jackson infestation on the western boundary demarcated by a deep and wide erosion gulley. Jan Joubert, with chainsaw, popper, lopper and poison tackled the aliens growing between the field ranger’s house and the top parking area.
Progress was slowed as the Port Jackson were fairly large and some of the Rooikrans trees were coppicing from the burned stumps or growing very close to them.
The mid-morning break was taken back at the parking area at 10am. Thanks to Dave Mourant for providing all that was needed for a good cup of tea or coffee despite having to miss the hack. Thanks to Anne Mourant and Betsy Joubert for making the delicious egg mayo and tomato and onion sandwiches. They were devoured!
After the break, the two groups returned to their working areas. Despite fairly large areas of alien free fynbos there are isolated thickets of Rooikrans with some Australian Myrtle amongst them. It was agreed at the aftermath that we will return on 6 December 2025 to clear them.
A very big thank you for a most productive and enjoyable hack. Thanks to Christine Coupar for joining us all the way from Kleinmond, Anne Woods and Magda Mills from Pringle and Megs Tweedie and Mike Christelis from Rooi Els. Your support is always appreciated.
As ever, on behalf of the Betty’s Bay Fynbos, thank you all for your efforts.
Rob Boyd
Convener Betty’s Bay Hack Group.