African Wildlife and Environment Issue 64

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

FRIENDS & CLUBS

FRIENDS OF THE NYLSVLEY Marion Mengell

huge, flat, 8-page ‘trannies’ (printed transparent plastic sheets placed on a light table) and sign them off for printing. There was very little room for error, as alteration was almost impossible. Today’s production methods are much easier. Fortunately, I already owned one of the first Apple Macintosh computers, brought in by a friend returning from the USA, as I had struggled to operate my first PC computer, called an Apricot! The digital era has been a boon to the print media, and digital design is more fun to master and operate. I’ve learned that operational and technological change, despite the stress that it may present at the time, offers prospects for personal growth and creativity, and often results in new opportunities and skills for future projects. How do you decide on themes and have these changed over the years? The early magazine content was all about wildlife, but the more recent thematic content has varied according to what is ‘hot and happening’. I always tried to put a positive spin on disturbing issues, and offer solutions and ideas for how children and adults can help to mitigate them. For example, recent themes have covered rhino and elephant poaching, climate change and ocean litter. Sometimes particular themes have been reprinted at the request of government, organisations and sponsors for special educational programmes. When, why and how did you start caring for the Earth? As a 4-year-old, I was found gathering large numbers of millipedes in my beach bucket, much to my mother’s horror. At that time I was able to wander and explore a large garden by myself. I discovered mini wildlife and was fascinated by the rippling legs of millipedes, and how ants ‘kissed’ and touched one another upon meeting. With an eye for detail and the smaller creatures on land, in rivers, or when scuba diving, one need never be bored – there is always something new to discover. How have your own kids played a role in inspiring you and your work for the magazine? My children taught me a great deal about how kids work, their likes and dislikes, and how kids learn to read. I also trusted their opinions, especially when there was critical comment – keeping an open mind for other ways of doing things can be a great learning process! What role do you think the magazine plays in environmental education? The magazine has great potential, but is not at all well known even among educators and nature lovers, so it has huge scope for growth. The most common comment from new subscribers has been ‘Why did I not know about this magazine before?’ The magazine deserves to be widely known as a quality children’s environmental education magazine and is possibly one of the longest published children’s magazines in the country. Modern children are increasingly becoming sedentary and detached from wilderness and even ‘the outdoors’, and the only animals that many know are cartoon characters! EnviroKids has a vital role to play in keeping nature alive and promoting conservation and sustainable living for the future. Any parting words? I was nervous to take on such a responsibility, but editing EnviroKids has proved one of the best decisions that I have made. The years have flown as I have worked with many interesting and kind-hearted peoplewho donated time, expertise, and support for the magazineandwhat it stands for. Iwant toextendaheartfelt thankyoutoeveryone I have worked with inside and outside of WESSA – without you I could not have done this job. Finally, I am very honoured to have contributed to the 37-year history and foundation laid by six previous editors, and for the opportunity to promote environmental awareness and

EnviroKids Milestones • 1972 : Published as a page for young readers in WESSA’s African Wildlife magazine, before becoming a 4-page insert 24-page, bi-monthly magazine, then titled Toktokkie , under editor Mike Nicol • 1981 : Afrikaans edition is released • 1995 : Toktokkie becomes a thematic environmental education magazine • 1998 : Toktokkie is rebranded as EnviroKids , a 36-pager that covers a wide range of environmental topics • Early 90s : Decline in membership and rising production costs see the end of the Afrikaans edition • 1995 : Roberta Griffiths takes over from Beverly Reed as editor • 1992 & 1999 : Recipient of Specialist Press Association Award • 2007 : Recipient of SAB Environmental Journalist Merit Award • 1980 : Published as

It all started round the campfire at Nylsvley after a huge storm in October 1990, chatting with weekend campers we discovered that the other families were from Krugersdorp, Witbank and Irene and all were members of the then Wildlife Society. A pact was made that Nylsvley Nature Reserve needed some friends…. Friends Groups were already active in Western Cape under the guidance of Anne Bean. Marion got in touch with Anne for advice and arranged to meet the officer in charge (OiC) of Nylsvley Jannie Coetzee in January 1991. George Whitehouse and family attended that first work party over the weekend 15 17 March 1991, with boys from Pretoria Boys High School Conservation Club. George’s father had sold the farm to the Transvaal Provincial Administration in 1973 whose aims were to provide suitable breeding habitat for Roan Antelope and Tsessebe. From 1974 onwards for 20 years the Savannah Biome Research Project was based at Nylsvley making it one of the most researched reserves in the country.

The first project tackled by the Friends was labelling some of the trees in the campsite and group camp area, and they provided a sign for Remmert’s Roost windmill. Alien plant removal was the main focus of the work party weekends which were run at about five times a year. The success of Friends of Nylsvley (FoN) may be partially attributed to the beautifully illustrated newsletter that reported on happenings at the reserve. The first newsletter was circulated by post in August 1991. The February 1992 Newsletter # 2 consisted of 4 pages, by then there were 27 members and the news was about the horrific poisoning of Quelea from the air which caused a huge amount of publicity, fortunately since then better ways of controlling Quelea have been developed. The acquisition of Vogelfontein to extend the reserve was reported in the 9 th edition July 1994 and the Friends helped to remove the intervening fence. By November 1994, eight new Friends groups had sprung up in and around Pretoria some initiated by people who had attended the work parties at Nylsvley, most groups are still active. The story of the installation of the water pipe line from Gauteng to Warm Baths/Nylstroom/ Naboomspruit, as they were then known, was covered. The stakeholder meeting was held at Nylsvley. FoN started running work parties at Mosdene Private Nature Reserve and extended the name and involvement to include the Nyl floodplain. In 1996 a grant was given by WWF to remove water thirsty blue gums from the tributary Groot Nyl River and FoN lobbied for Nylsvley to become a RAMSAR site. In April 1996 FoN ran the first residential course…

enjoyment in several generations of children ‘Caring for the Earth’. “In the end we will conserve only what we love. We love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught” – Baba Dioum 1968, speech in New Delhi to the general assembly of the IUCN.

Submit articles, photos, artwork or sponsorship / partnership proposals: Renata Harper 073 963 4663 envirokids@wessa.co.za

All illustrations by: Julia Davies

First Toktokkie cover 1980

44 | African Wildlife & Environment | 64 (2017)

45 | African Wildlife & Environment | 64 (2017)