The Hangklip Botanical Society (NPC) trading as the Kogelberg Branch of the Botanical Society of South Africa is doing amazing work. See notes re:
- The achievements of the Hackers over the past month
- The Bookshop turnover for this past financial year which has increased by 47% on the previous year
- The Garden Circle doing wonderful work especially in the field of education. Galia Manicom and her team are doing excellent work rescuing plants.
- Gerda Theron is a stalwart member of Crew which is doing outstanding work.
- The talks, the walks, the book launches which are all very well supported.
We have a vibrant, energetic, highly motivated and successful Hangklip Botanical Society (NPC). I, for one, am very proud of what has been achieved by the NPC.
- HAROLD PORT NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDENS
We continue to support the gardens wherever we can and Viv von der Heyden and Jenny Pattinson and their team of gardeners are doing wonderful work in clearing flower beds; we just need to find a way now to replant these flower beds.
We look forward to the hackers, sometime in the not-too-distant future, clearing keurbooms in certain parts of the garden as well as all dead trees and dead and broken limbs.
- WEATHER
When one ventures a prediction about Nature but especially the weather, one often ends up with egg on one’s face. This is definitely true after what I wrote in the April newsletter! So far, there is no sign that it is going to be a very dry winter. April’s total rainfall was 164mm, the wettest April that I have recorded since 2015 and in May up until the 10th I have already recorded 61mm bringing the total for the year so far to over 500mm. This is far greater than the long-term average of 312mm until the end of May. We are very grateful for the rain.
Betty’s Bay Rainfall 2015 to 2025 Harold Porter National Garden
- HAROLD PORTER BOOK AND CRAFT SHOP
The shop continues to perform well. April 2026 was the first month of the financial year of the Hangklip Botanical Society NPC. The shop turnover was up 37% on April 2025, mainly as a result of very successful Easter Plant Sales.
Saturday 9 May book launch: The First Safari: Searching for Francois Levaillant by Ian Glenn. This was a fascinating and well-presented book launch by the author. Prof Glenn narrated how he researched Levaillant for over 25-years from the West Coast of South Africa to the Museums of Paris. Willem Stigling What’s App to me after the launch read:“One of the best presentations that I have seen at a book launch!!!” We were truly honoured to have this very high caliber of author and researcher giving of his time to do a presentation for us.
Saturday 27 June book launch at 10.30 for 11am: Bulbs of the Fynbos by John Manning and Dee Snijman. This promises to be a very interesting launch. Bulbous plants produce some of the most striking natural floral displays and our region is endowed with the greatest number and the richest variety globally. With over 1200 naturally occurring bulb species, the Cape Floristic Region is the undisputed bulb capital of the world. This book is an informative introduction examining the biology, structure and conservation status of fynbos bulbs, explaining the botanical features that are essential for identification and much more.
Please continue to support the Harold Porter Book and Craft Shop as the funds are badly needed to support all of the Hangklip Botanical Society NPC’s activities.
- FRIENDS OF THE HAROLD PORTER GARDENS
Viv and Jenny and their merry band of gardeners continue to do great work in Harold Porter Gardens. They do their best to garden between the cold fronts that are arriving with regularity.
We appeal to anyone who has a great love for the Harold Porter National Gardens in the Kogelberg Biosphere to assist Viv and Jenny with the gardening activities. The next gardening sessions are on:
Tuesday 2 June at 8.30am with Jenny and her team.
Thursday 11 June at 08.30am with Viv and her team.
If you would like to volunteer, all you need to do is pitch up at the Harold Porter Gardens at the designated time. We have the tools and protective clothing – we just desperately need your hands to help!
- KOGELBERG GARDEN CIRCLE
The Garden Circle meeting on Friday 15 May was hosted by Annalise Willems. Annalise bought her house about five years ago and discovered gardening on the dunes presented its own set of problems – challenges like planting trees and flowers that need lots of protection from the wind, and exposed soils needing cover. The easiest solution was to have a small, cultivated area and leave the rest to nature.
Adele Scheepers also gave a little talk on what to look for when trying to identify a plant and how to use INaturalist to help with that.
Convenor: Galia Manicom 082 963 3804
- HACKS
Betty’s Bay Hack No. 746 took place on Saturday 2 May. See Rob’s report above.
The next Hack is on Saturday 6 June.
Convener: Rob Boyd 082 567 8858
Hangklip Hardcore Hackers (No. 75): April 2026
Chris Geldenhuys reported as follows re the Hardcore Hackers April activities:
“There were 9 hack opportunities in April of which one opportunity was rained out with a total of 210 man days.
The HHH Team achieved significant progress across multiple locations this month including clearing Pines on Plot 559/ 60 and partially 149, tackling challenging undergrowth in Bass Road, minimizing Spider Gums during the 20th Hack at M-Plot and clearing an area equivalent to more than 4 – 5 rugby fields of Hakea in the Buffelstal Valley. At FCE it was the normal heavy duty in our efforts to clear the Buffels River from aliens.
Chris goes on to report:
“The Hangklip Sugarbird Work Team, nearing the end of their second task at the Bottlebrush farm, achieved great productivity, and will be taking on the more challenging areas of Hakea as their third task. The team’s contribution is greatly appreciated and we thank Mike Christelis for monitoring and acting as liaison between HHH and the Sugarbird Foundation.
The HHH Management Team met with the Management Team of the Sugarbird Project under the leadership of Sandy Van Hoogstraten and Maya Naumannon on the 1 May to sort out working procedures and express our admiration and appreciation for this wonderful opportunity, a win-win situation for all. We provide the plan and requirements, the Sugarbird Project provides the team and the funding, the team is getting the remuneration and Nature blossoms. What more do you want! It is Win-Win for everybody.” The relationship with the Sugarbird Foundation is so important for alien clearing in the Hangklip area. Thanks to Chris and his team for this wonderful initiative that is truly blossoming.
Convener: Chris Geldenhuys: 082 900 8299
Pringle Bay Hack:
Chris Geldenhuys reported on the Pringle Bay Hack No. 221 held on 25 April.
38 hackers reported for duty to tackle alien vegetation in the areas around Bobby Road.
Chris goes on to report:
“The efforts were directed towards eradicating alien plants.
Bobby Road: 90% Rooikranz, with 5% Acacia Myrtle. 3% Port Jackson, and 2% other species.
The day was marked by the goodwill, energy and teamwork displayed by all the hackers, both local and from neighbouring areas such as Gordon’s Bay, Rooi Els and Betty’s Bay. The collective commitment is always encouraging and appreciated. The positive temperament of the hackers is outstanding.”
Whilst significant progress has been made by the hacker’s group and the neighbouring volunteers, there remains room for improvement in motivating our broader community. It is essential that we actively encourage both neighbours and local residents to take responsibility for eradicating alien plant species on their own properties.
The next Pringle Bay hack will be on Saturday 27 June. The Meeting point will always be in front of the Hangklip Bottle Store, in Central Avenue, Pringle Bay, at 08.30am.
Convener: Chris Geldenhuys: 082 900 8299.
Rooi Els Hack:
The Rooi Els Hack takes place on the second Saturday of every month. They meet at the Rooi Els Village Shop at 08h30.
A successful hack was had on Saturday 9 May. Mike’s report re the hack will be included in next month’s newsletter as the internet connectivity problems in the past few days has prevented him from delivering one. The next Rooi Els hack will be on Saturday13 June.
Convenor: Mike Christelis: 082 467 2795
- CREW (Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers)
The Kogelberg Crew Team continues to do wonderful work in searching for endangered or near endangered species, recording their numbers and locations which all helps with conservation of the fynbos in the Kogelberg Biosphere.
I am very fortunate to see the Crew monthly report, and it is incredibly comprehensive. For April they hiked to nine different sites in search of endangered or near endangered plant species.
As I read Gerda’s incredibly detailed report, the number of observations that they make on each visit astounds me – between 100 to 350 observations per visit. They also record the alien species, few in some areas and many in others. Once again, it emphasizes the necessity to stay on top of the possible alien invasion.
To Gerda Theron and her team, thank you very much. Keep up the good work. We are proud of what you do on behalf of the Hangklip Botanical Society NPC.
Contact: Gerda Theron Email: kogelbergcrew@gmail.com
- MONTHLY TALKS
On Saturday 16 May we viewed the inspiring documentary on the African Oyster Catcher presented by Jacques and Van As Jordaan, a grandfather and his grandson sharing a deep passion for one of the most charismatic and beloved birds found along our coastline. What a beautiful relationship between grandfather and grandson as they collaborated on making a video that is both profoundly moving and beautifully produced.
The talks are held on the third Saturday of each month at 6pm.
- KOGELBERG BRANCH MONTHLY WALK
Also on Saturday 16 May team Tim Atwell led a group of enthusiasts along Rod’s Trail which hosts an incredible number of Fynbos species, some just coming into flower at this time of the year. As always, Tim was a mine of information and the walk was enjoyed by all.
- CONCLUSION
I cannot but repeat what I said in the last newsletter:
“The Hangklip Botanical Society (NPC) amazes me with all that it achieves in its work to conserve the fynbos of the Kogelberg Biosphere. There are so many people working relentlessly on this greater conservation project”.
To all of you, thank you. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
I know that especially newcomers to the area find Overberg winters fairly depressing – wet, cold, with strong winds and not much sunshine. We who have lived here most of our lives really appreciate these winters as the plants need the cold, they need water to build reserves for the long hot dry summers, and the rain fills the reservoirs to provide us with water to see us through the long hot summers. This is the time to sit around the home fires and realize how blessed we are to live God’s greatest floral kingdom. The sunny days in winter are stupendous, and this is when we can get out and really enjoy the fynbos.
Peter Dall
Director: Hangklip Botanical Society
082 784 4326
Email: peter@pdconsult.co.za
11 May 2026
The Hangklip Botanical Society (NPC) through the income derived from the profits made by the BotSoc Craft and Book Shop in the Gardens, provides lubrication and tools for the hackers, tools and equipment for the volunteer gardeners, helps to fund various items and repairs needed in the Gardens, provides opportunities for learning and companionship through its monthly talks, walks, garden visits and volunteer activities and safeguards our fynbos through the activities of its many volunteers groups as seen above. With a membership contribution of just R200 per annum you could enjoy the benefits it offers as well as have the satisfaction of knowing that you are contributing to the wellbeing of our beautiful environment. Contact Sue McConnell on 083 676 9557 or email her at sue.mcc@mweb.co.za.