Twenty-five volunteers met on an overcast and cool day at the St Francis of Assisi Anglican Chapel to remove aliens from the verges of Porter Drive. This was an amazing turnout considering that the hack took place over the Easter long weekend. It was great to have our Capetonian visitors, Sandy and Chris Todd, together with Krystal Tolley, visiting from Gauteng, back at the hack.
Hackers car-pooled at the chapel and then worked their way along Porter Drive continuing from where we had left off at the end of the March hack. A well established rooikranz forest on the bend of Porter Drive near Hermas Road occupied most of our time up to the mid morning break.
The break was taken at 10am in the Chapel courtyard. A big thank you to Tim Attwell for once again arranging the venue and multi-tasking on the day between the hackers needs and Easter preparations for Sunday.
Thanks, as always, to Dave Mourant for providing all that is needed each month for a good cup of tea or coffee as well as the “blue” herbicide. Our thanks to Betsey Joubert and Anne Mourant for their customary and delicious egg & mayo and tomato & onion sarmies. These were supplemented with marshmallow Easter eggs kindly donated by our Easter bunny, Jonathan.
Before the hackers got too settled and lethargic, we resumed from Hermas Road towards the Centre Shop, ending at the Klipspringer Road circle. The Porter Drive hack was successfully completed except for the aliens opposite the Ixia Road intersection due to the presence of bees from hives placed amongst the trees on the verge.
The aftermath at the chapel was enjoyed with cold ones shared amongst friends enjoying one another’s company.
Thanks, as always to our hacking neighbours, who put in a special effort over the Easter long weekend to attend from Rooi Els and Pringle Bay – Megs Tweedie, Anne Woods, Ken Meiring and Chris Geldenhuys.
Ad hoc Hack, Thursday, 26 March 2026, 07:45 – 10:15: Viv von der Heyden, Rosemary Fowkes, Dave Mourant, Paul Whitelaw, Rob Boyd.
Sunny Seas, Corner of Sea View and the R44. Oyster Street verges from the R44 including Abalone Street. Luckhoff Road both verges between the R44 and Dolphin Drive. The work involved popping, lopping and chainsaws to remove New Zealand Christmas trees, Acacia elata, rooikranz and black wattle. Our thanks to Rosemary and John Fowkes for providing coffee, tea and crunchies at their home.
As ever, on behalf of the Betty’s Bay Fynbos, thank you all for your efforts.
Rob Boyd
Convener Betty’s Bay Hack Group