FoBCA Member Newsletter – June 2018
Feedback from recent events
The first post-AGM FoBCA committee meeting was held, and your new FoBCA committee was established to serve for the next financial year. With the exception of Roy Fuller-Gee, most of the previous committee members carried over their current portfolios. Our long-standing chairman has finally chosen to step down as chairman in order to focus on other areas of conservation. Stephanie Muller, whom many of you have met on walks, has been elected as chairwoman in Roy's place.
Roy Fuller-Gee ... 
... in his element.
I am sure everyone will agree that Roy has become an important figure in the conservation environment in Blaauwberg, and we want to express our heartfelt thanks to Roy for his hard work over the many years he served the FoBCA as chairman. Roy has grown the FoBCA into a prospering entity, with a stake in many developments and representative bodies in the region, while attracting members from all walks of life. Under his chairmanship the committee has been built up and steered to operate extremely smoothly. Roy will remain a valuable member of the committee and, as you can see from the portfolios below, he will still be as active as ever! As he concentrates his passions on the Green Coast initiative and the cultural heritage projects, we wish Roy every deserved success.
Battle of Blaauwberg Commemoration event, held on Sat 6 Jan 2018
The year started off with a bang, and a puff of smoke!
For the second time since the 210th anniversary of the Battle of Blaauwberg 1806, in collaboration with the local staff of the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve and with the kind permission and hospitality of the owners of Blaauwberg Farm, the Friends hosted a commemorative event on Saturday, 6th January 2018 at the Blaauwberg Farm.
Spotted Harlequin Snake
Pssst..
This beautiful specimen was seen during a recent Archaeology Survey being done in the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve. Nobody was prepared to put their pinkie next to it for size reference!
Spotted Harlequin Snake
Coastal Walk Flower Guide: 2nd edition now available
On 16 Dec 2017, the FoBCA held its year-end function at Eerste Steen Resort, where Friends gathered to enjoy having their olfactory senses stimulated by the aromas from the braais wafting on the "gentle" Southeaster breeze.
The occasion was marked by the launching of the newly published 2nd edition of the Coastal Walk Flower Guide. This guide is for the novice to easily identify flora according to its colour on the Coastal Dune Trail in the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve (the 4.5km loop trail that starts opposite Eerste Steen Resort - map inside cover) and can be used on many other walking routes that have Cape Flats Dune Strandveld vegetation along the West Coast. It contains beautifully clear colour photographs of approximately half the species recorded on the Dune Trail itself. Here and there throughout the guide are little extra fun facts and at the back is a Quick Guide to the flowering months of each species.
Update on our Eland herd
Since December, some Eland were released in the Reserve, and to everyone’s surprise, the one Eland cow was found to be pregnant. The Reserve was blessed with the newcomer a few weeks ago. Keeping very close to mother all the time.
For more information contact Jacques Küyler, Biodiversity Area Co-ordinator: Blaauwberg Nature Reserve, T + 27 21 444 0454.
Baboon Spiders…
These harmless giants are often negatively portrayed.
They are called baboon spiders due to their hairy appearance and the black scopulae pads on its "feet" resembling the pads on baboon feet. They are not dangerous to man although they can inflict a painful bite. South African species are terrestrial occurring in underground burrows or scrapes under rocks. The scrape is lined with thick silk, which is attached to the rock and keeps out troublesome insects such as ants.