African Wildlife and Environment Issue 70

FRIENDS & CLUBS

O ver the years, members of the Friends of Kruin Park have increasingly become involved in ways that support the Nature Conservation Division, in its responsibility to manage and maintain the reserve, mainly because the city’s funding of nature conservation is inadequate. About twenty of our members of the Friends of Kruin Park do just about all the work that takes place in Kruin Park. We keep the paths open, and pleasant to use, and we are active in work parties that focus on the removing and controlling alien vegetation. We use herbicides and are fortunate to have in our group experienced members with experience and plant knowledge to do the spraying. When we cut and paint invasive plants, someone with knowledge and experience is always present. As a result of our efforts, we have made huge inroads into the population of Wattles, Lantanas, Bugweed, Cat’s Claw Creeper and several other less troublesome Aliens. Although the Sand Olive, Dodonaea viscosa , is indigenous to South Africa it is far less common in the Central Highveld, and it has already invaded too much of Kruin Park’s Bankenveld grassland. We have focused on reducing their numbers, hoping to preserve the wild flowers in the reserve. Another indigenous culprit that still needs our attention is the Pencil Plant, Euphorbia tirucalli , and we have made a start with removing this plant. We have arranged several events including guided walks that focus on identifying the wildflowers, but we point out the trees and the birds as we move through. We have also had a very entertaining and informative talk on the Birds of Kruin Park. Social events Apart from this serious work in Kruin Park, we arrange social events. Since the start of the year we have had two social events, an event to see and enjoy the so called Super moon that coincided with it being a blue moon, and the second full moon in January, and a recent Earth Hour Social. Another important activity that has become the responsibility of thepark is to remove litter on aweekly basis. At the same time, we check the perimeter fences, and repair the holes made by criminals trying to use the park as a getaway or hideaway. Dealing with dense thickets in the forest areas There are areas in the reserve where thickets of Velvet Rock-Alder, Canthium gilfillanii and to a lesser extent Rock-Alder, Afrocanthium mundianum , are so dense that it’s becoming difficult to get to the Lantanas and Cat’s Claw Creeper. These two aliens therefore continue to flourish in these difficult places. Recognising that there is no natural system to prevent the afforestation of the Bankenveld Grassland trees

in Kruin Park, we, the Friends of Kruin Park, hope to contact anyone who is researching appropriate forest control practices for use in the nature reserve. A checklist of the Flora of Kruin Park To provide a permanent reference resource for the future, one of our members is presently working to produce a checklist of the Flora of Kruin Park, that also lists the weeds and invasives. The document already lists 148 plants, sadly more weeds and invasive plants. This is impressive for a nine-hectare nature reserve close to the heart of the city. Most of the plants we have found are in the open grassland but some are growing in light and even quite dense forest conditions.

Nature conservation in the KRUIN PARK

Although the City of Tshwane owns the Kruin Park Nature Reserve and is responsible for the upkeep of this Park, it struggles to maintain the park, largely due to its limited resources.

Mark Theron

Barleria pretoriensis Gladiolus pretoriensis

The supermoon

Mark Theron Chairperson: Friends of Kruin Park legodimong@mweb.co.za

A view of the city from the park

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