Spring is here and I am sure you have all enjoyed the abundance flowers around us, while sometimes experiencing some really cold days! One of the most beautiful pictures I have seen was a Namaqualand daisy opening up its exquisite face to the sun, surrounded by a blanket of pure-white snow.

Friends of BCA AGM – Thu 16 Sep 2021

Please diarise the evening of Thursday 16 Sep, 18h00 for the FoBCA AGM . It will be done virtually in view of the Covid pandemic. Perhaps we will 'see' some faces of those that would normally not be able to attend a physical meeting.

We will send you the link to the meeting and the Agenda closer to the time.

Besides the usual official proceedings, you can look forward to a special guest speaker: Chris Murphy . Chris is a well-known heritage practitioner in the Western Cape, specifically knowledgeable in heritage of the Swartland area. His topic will be ‘The Old Highway Revisited’ and echoes Dr EE Mossop’s book ‘Old Cape Highways’ published in 1927. It will cover the route then, and how it evolved into what it is today. This should be a fascinating talk.

Flower Guide!!

You definitely NEED the FoBCA Flower Guide at this time of the year. Security has been stepped after the recent muggings and you should be able to walk the Coastal Dune Trail comfortably adhering to the guidelines set out here , so why not take the book along as your guide. It is a handy size for carrying and flowers are quick and easy to find with its colour-coded search facility. Ask for the guide at Starke Ayres Garden Centre (at the information counter), at Plants on 6th Nursery, Melkbosstrand or at Eerste Steen. Cost is R100 each.

Please note that there is a CREW-guided walk this coming Saturday 4 Sep. Experts will show you the interesting species along this route, how they co-exist, are pollinated, defend themselves against predators, and survive in this typical Cape Flats Dune Strandveld vegetation. The walk can last as long as 3 hours depending on the interest, but participants can turn back earlier.

Contact Petra Broddle at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Kay Loubser at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., if you want to join on the day.

Blaauwberg Nature Reserve proclaimed a Provincial Heritage Site

We are very proud to announce that ‘our’ Blaauwberg Nature Reserve, with its rich bio-diversity and cultural history that dates back 2000 years, has been declared a provincial heritage site.

Anroux Marais, Minister of Culture and Sport for the Western Cape handed over a plaque to the City of Cape Town on Tue 24 Aug, after Heritage Western Cape approved the site for its Provincial Register.

This is the opportunity to again confirm the special and unique features of the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve:

• It is the only place in the world from which you can view TWO World Heritage Sites at the same time – Robben Island and Table Mountain
• The Reserve boasts three threatened vegetation types: Cape Flats Dune Strandveld, Swartland Renosterveld and Cape Flats Sand Fynbos. Rarely will you find these 3 types together in an area of 1445 ha
• The Reserve hosts the site where the Battle of Blaauwberg took place on 8 Jan 1806. The area near Bloubergsvlei (which you would have visited if you have done any of the regular FoBCA Battle of Blaauwberg walks in the past), was the place where many Battle artefacts were found – buttons, buckles, shell and musket fragments etc
• The archeological remnants of 3 historical farms, as well as part of the Compagniesdam, can be found on the site.

To think this jewel is on our doorstep! We urge you to spread the word and to invite friends and family to join the FoBCA, to help conserve this special Reserve. We have many projects in which people can participate - you are sure to find some project to spark your interest and kick-start your involvement.


Holding the plaque: Koos Retief - Reserve Manager of Blaauwberg Nature Reserve; Anroux Marais - Minister of Culture and Sport of the Western Cape; Nora Grose - Councillor Ward 23


Lorrain Gerrans - Director for Environmental Management Department - City of Cape Town, giving an overview of the Reserve


Very happy and proud FoBCA representatives: Pat Titmuss, Roy Fuller-Gee, Stephanie Muller

The World’s Best Outdoor Gym!

The volunteer Alien Hacking team is still, as always, working hard in the Reserve on Tuesday mornings, clearing and maintaining areas on Blaauwberg Nature Reserve's eastern side. The more people helping, the more successful the clearing efforts.

If you (or anyone you know who might be interested) are available on Tuesday mornings for a few hours, please join Eddie Heimann and his team members for a healthy bout of outdoor exercise, while contributing towards conservation. Eddie can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Beach Clean-ups

Our monthly Beach Clean-ups – a critical project to retain the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve Coastline’s Green Coast Status, and where we work closely with the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve staff – continue with our full commitment.

Please support this project. Check out the September programme . You can also just drive down Otto du Plessis road on any morning during the week of 13-18 Sep 2021 and look out for our flags! Bring a flask and some refreshments and make a morning of it. We have regular participants from as far as Brackenfell sometimes joining the Clean-up – an outing they look forward to each month. Not only will you contribute to keeping our beaches clean, but it is a very satisfying exercise to do so. During the August clean-up at Kreeftebaai, a whopping 73kgs rubbish was picked up. That was on ONE DAY alone!

We chose one picture from each of the pick-up sites in August to show you the kinds of interesting (or should we rather say, concerning) items that were picked up during the clean-up:


Kreeftebaai


Kelpbaai (What exactly are these? They were also found in large numbers at Big Bay)


Holbaai


Derdesteen


Big Bay – the ubiquitous lollipop stick

Calendar of events

Date Event Sat 4 Sep 2021 Botanical Walk - Contact Petra Broddle at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Kay Loubser at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , if you want to join on the day. Mon 13 – Sat 18 Sep 2021

Coastal Clean-up to celebrate International Coastal Clean-up Day on 18 Sep 2021 Thu 16 Sep 2021
FoBCA AGM at 6pm - link to virtual meeting and agenda to follow Sat 25 Sep 2021
Two Hills walk - SMS Stephanie Muller on 083 679 4642 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , to book your place or if you want to find out more.