WILDCLIFF APRIL 2007.

End of April 2007 and the trip to Wildcliff.

The weekend at the end of April was a Long Weekend due to a Public holiday on the Friday as well as on the following Monday. We left PE early on Friday morning for Heidelberg. Nicci & Stefan also left CT that morning. We underestimated how long it would take us to get there and stooped off at Ena for a coffee break. We are busy reading the book; “Faith Like Potatoes”. It is a wonderful story of a farmer in Kwa Zulu Natal who has a Christian Ministry. As we drive Barbara reads a chapter aloud.

The drive took us 6 hours. But we found out on our way back, that 6 hours would be about the time we should allow for as we like to stop for coffee and eats. The total distance from our house to the Wildcliff farm is just over 500kays for us. We met up with Nicci & Stefan in Heidelberg and then on to the farm.

Gordon and Jeanne were there to meet us. We made a bit of a botch of our first attempt to get up to the house as the rain had caused the road to become muddy and slippery but after a short while were able to drive up to the house and to enjoy their hospitality once more. It seems to me that the trick is to start off in first gear as soon as you come to a hill. Take it slow and easy and you should make it to the top.

The fact that there were three small children (Christian, Aaron and Zara), Ally and a dog did not seem to bother them. I asked about the tractor. First off we would need a powerful battery and we would need to pump up the wheels. Gordon has not driven the tractor for a year so we don’t know if it would need a mechanic to get it going. Gordon was keen to show me the water supply so Stefan & I followed him up past the back of the house. He showed us the pipes leading into the house. Left hand pipe is Cold and the right hand pipe is Hot. That is facing the house from the back and looking in a Westerly direction. Stefan grabbed his digital camera and was soon taking photo’s of everything in sight.

There are taps on the pipes as well as filters that should be cleaned periodically. There are two sources of water supply. One comes from a spring just above the house and this is the one they like to use for drinking. The second water supply comes from a dam and is not quite as clear. Gordon tells us that he has to pay R108.00 per month for water despite that fact that this is his water in the first place.

There is also a tank that they use for the very best water which is the rain water that is caught from the roof gutters. The roof of the house is corrugated asbestos. The gutters are pretty much in tatters. We followed Gordon up to a small reserve tank just above the house where he demonstrated the pressure of the water by removing the pipe from the tank and giving me a good cold shower. Stefan had his camera and caught an action shot of me in the spray. We then walked up and along the pipe.

The pipe is laid both under ground as well as along the surface. It is a plastic type black pipe that seems to last forever. Mostly it is above ground. After a short walk through the wattle forest we found what used to be the dam but was washed away by floods about 10 years ago. Here is where the pipe is laid open to catch the spring water as well as the dam water. This small dam is fed by a pipe that is sourced right up at the top waterfall.

When we got back to the house there was another cup of tea before we walked down to the grassed area below the farm house. Here we tried out the swings under the huge oak tree before we walked along the old sluice that had been built by previous owners to bring water to the fields in that area. Gordon has an irrigation pipe leading from the house that he leaves open permanently straight back into the river. He went to great pains to tell us to never close both the house taps and the irrigation taps as this will lead to burst pipes. The pressure is tremendous. One of the two taps must always be open.

There are three major infestations of exotic plants; the wattle, the pines and the bramble. Jeanne tells us that she is constantly spraying the wattle and the bramble. As she walks she bends down to pull out a sprig of wattle. But the problem is huge as each wattle had hundreds of seed pods and these are scattered throughout the forest and spreading fast. Nothing else grows where that wattle has invaded and established itself. There are a few gum trees as well but these do not pose nearly as much of a threat to the environment.

We walked up past the old mill to the really old house. This is about two hundred meters from the main house. It is pretty dilapidated and would need a lot of work to get it into any kind of living condition. The house has one main room on the south side, three rooms on the north side and on the West middle there is what must have been the kitchen. At the back on the south side there is a locked store room that I was not able to examine. At one time the water pipes had led to the house but now there is not water supply. This house is right in the middle of a wattle forest. The access to this house is up an old disused steep road that would probably need a 4X4 to get to from the farm road. To the side I saw a structure which may have been either the outside toilet or a chicken hock.

After that we were all pretty tired and made our way back to the house where we cooked the supper. I had a bit of a sore back that I had developed either when I was pushing the car, or from the drive or it may have been from carrying Zara on the backpack. I was pretty much out of it and Stefan made the supper while I poured us a sherry and a beer which we enjoyed while watching the Blue Bulls beat the Auckland Blues in a thrilling super 14 rugby match. We really needed that after the disappointing show of cricket when we lost to Australia in the World Cup Semi final in Barbados. We had a good night’s sleep and were ready to tackle Saturday afresh.

On Saturday morning Gordon lead Stefan & I up the hill to the pine and wattle forest. Here he showed us across to the West of the farm before we walked up through the forest and into the most beautiful fynbos imaginable. The pine and wattle trees in the forest seem to fall down regularly as the soil is soft and fertile.

Gordon showed us where miners had dug unsuccessfully for Kaolin. Kaolin is used in the paper, ceramics and paint industry. It is extensively mined in the area around Noordhoek and Chapman’s Peak. In the early 90’s I remember (as we ran Two Oceans) that there were huge action groups and protests objecting to the mining activities planned but ultimately mining licences were granted. Falling trees is a problem as there was more that one that has damaged the pipes. These trees will have to be cut and cleared to access the pipes. Gordon has sold the pine trees to a man who graded the road from the house to the plantation. The trust will have to honour this agreement.

The Baboon tear into the protea and the pine cones causing the seed to spread. The walk is not a tough one and quite doable by anyone. Gordon showed us where he had planted wheat in the past. This area is now overgrown and they allow florists to collect heather. This has been a source of income for them as they were paid R5000 pa for this.

Gordon showed us where the main split of the water pipes is located along the pathway. As we neared to top of the path he indicated the boundaries of the farm. Below us was the valley and the river that runs from the top of the farm right down to the farm house. At last we reached the point where the top waterfall is. This is a feature on its own and will take quite a bit of exploring. There are huge cliffs around and areas where we could spend a day picnicking. Pools to swim and to “Bum-slide”.

Going up in a 4x4 will require a skilful driver and there are places where you could easily get in to trouble. We stopped to fill the water bladder that I have in my backpack. Gordon pointed out the source of the water supply for the farm. The pipe starts off with a metal pipe that is protected from debris by a plastic filter and then fits into the black plastic piping that we had seen on the way up. The position of the pipe is marked by a stone that resembles a coffin.

He showed us the endangered “long tube Protea”. The Strawberry Protea it turns out is not a Protea at all but an Everlasting which is part of the Daisy family. The Protea is named after the Greek God Proteus who had the ability to change his shape at will. The species protea was so named because of its variety of shapes.

We saw huge fields of (I think it is called) Long Tube Protea on the West face of the Langeberg Mountain. In doing some research I could only find the Shuttlecock Protea that looks like the ones that we saw. This is not a flower that you will see in florists as it is protected and may not be harvested. Gordon pointed out the Honey bush that is used to make a delicious tea. Gordon has lived on the farm for 15 years and has many stories to tell of his walks over this area. He is familiar with his neighbours and has a story to tell about each one.

We continued over the top of the Langeberg from where we were able to see the Klein Karoo. A spectacular view greeted us as we stopped for an apple. We turned back into a cold west wind and I thought to myself that it would be foolish to venture up here without a warm jacket, a torch and something to eat. I imagine that mist could cover the mountain tops and the temperature drop without any warning. We did not have a cell phone with us to test the reception up there. To the East we saw the Gysmans Hoek pass winding its way over the mountains.

On the way down Gordon tried again to indicate the boundaries of the farm but I was not able to see what it was that he was pointing out. We came across a dung beetle and the dung ball that it had made from the cattle dung that is abundant there. The dung beetle uses this dung ball to impress a mate but may have to fight off robbers wishing to steal the prize ball. The ball will be buried and the young larvae feed off the ball until able to fend for themselves. The dung beetle also feeds on mushroom, decaying leaves and the droppings of other animals.

The whole walk took us about 4 hours and after a short break we packed up and left for home. The visit had been too short for the amount of driving that we had to do. The minimum that I will do next time is two nights at the farm. We got home at about 21.00 and we were all exhausted after a six hour drive. The drive started off in Heidelberg where we called the Pam Golding estate agent to meet us to hand over copies of the trust documents. The lady who met us seemed to be quite happy to assist us despite the fact that it was a Saturday afternoon. We filled up with petrol and then stopped in Wilderness for take away coffee and pies. At this time Ally was fast asleep on the back seat.

That evening as we drove Barbara swapped with Ally for a while and lay down on the back seat for a short nap. I turned on the radio to listen to the Rugby at Newlands in Cape Town where the Stormers were playing the Reds. I tuned into a Radio Play. It was the first time in a long time that we listened to a radio drama. The story was about a young woman, posing as a baby sitter, who wanted to abduct a child from a home as she believed that this family had “sold” her as a baby. When both of her “parents” had died in an accident she discovered that she was an adopted child. The body of the story is this young woman talking to the granny as she plots the abduction of the young boy. The play ends with a happy ending as the family told her that she had not been sold but had been kidnapped as a baby.

We stopped at the Plett Kentucky for a double crunch burger for Ally. Our last stop was at Storms River where we bought another hot chocolate before the final leg to home. Nicci and Stefan had a short drive as they stopped over at Stefan’s sister in Ceres for the night. The drive from CT is not nearly as tough as it is from PE as it is only about 280kays from where Nicci & Stefan are staying.

On Sunday morning we went to church after which Ally went to play with her friend Lara and we had a relaxing day which ended with Bridge at Charles & Ingrid. Ena & Anne Thomas were at Wildcliff to assess the possibility of restoring the Whitehouse. The Whitehouse does not have water or Power at the moment but setting up a water supply, Telephone line and connecting Eskom Power will not be that difficult. There is a toilet and septic tank on the West side of the house which I imagine would be better located on the South or East side. The outside walls are double thick which will provide protection against elements and should be a solid start to any alterations.

I had the day off on Monday and used it to open the account at the bank for the Wild Cape Trust while Barbara finalised the purchase of tickets to go to Canada at the end of the year. Nicci took Christian for Blood Tests:
Big day. Chris started on medication today. They started him on a very low dose for the first 5 days then building up over a 6 week trial period. There is no guarantee and only a small number of types of Dystonia can be treated with it. Basically a chemical called Dopamine sends messages from nerve to nerve. This medication (Levodopa) just ups the Dopamine to make the ‘messages’ stronger.

He was very brave when they took the blood!

Wildcliff Nature Reserve
Education Outreach and Partnership


The principal mission of Wildcliff Nature Reserve, founded in 2007 by the Wild Cape Nature Trust, is to contribute to the preservation and understanding of the Cape Floral Kingdom.

In order to fulfill this mission, an education program will be developed at Wildcliff to promote learning, to share the natural resources and to reach out to the wider community of conservation minded people.

The immediate goals for Wildcliff’s Education Program are as follows:
1. Create a space for learning and meeting (by May/June 2008)
a. The White House will hold a meeting room and education centre
i. Until the White House is ready, Talari can serve as a meeting space (once work there is substantially complete; anticipated 8 May 2008
b. Hiking Trails and guided walks will be developed (see Wildcliff Trail proposal)
i. For a visiting group, say 15+, we want to be able to take them on a broad, nearby loop trail that will not disturb too much vegetation, but will give them an idea of pure, rich fynbos. What do you suggest? Perhaps the Rain Frog Dam – Talari Stream loop? Or Rain Frog Dam and up to Fynbos Road and then back down Fynbos Rd? (c1 and c2)
2. Contact area schools, groups, societies and invite them to the property (April 2008)
a. A database of organizations, groups, education programs needs to be developed
i. What about the Agricultural College in Riversdale? For them we think a wattle-removal day would fit with their program
b. An invitation needs to be created and sent to the list to generate interest in Wildcliff
3. Develop a program and education centre for visitors to the property, ensuring that their stay is informative, inspiring and exciting (by May 2008). Comment: since the White House may not be ready by May, materials and other activities can be assembled in the Talari Library (computer room)
a. Produce education materials for the walls (posters, maps, charts, interactive stations – see page 3)
b. Collect and label organic materials
c. Guided walking trails (maps, trail markers, signs for self guided walks; informed guide for guided walks)
d. Develop lesson plans/education program for school groups that can be replicated by any Wildcliff volunteer in the future:
i. Lesson plans/activities could include: biodiversity, evolution, trees & plants, Fynbos, geology, orienteering, ecosystems and biomes, tracking, baboons & primates, birds, small mammals, insects, scientific method etc
ii. Activities could include: scavenger hunts, plaster tracks, terrariums, collection and identification, lecture from Wildcliff scientist, slides, etc
iii. Possible school collaborations with the program could grow to include: Once-off school visit to the Reserve (workshop length determined by the school); Wildcliff curriculum, includes multiple visits to the reserve to explore hands-on science; Science in the schools, bringing Wildcliff to local schools.



Current possible complications:
• Road Condition Solution is to give prior warning and wait for municipality to fix .
• Liability (need a waiver?) Solution is to look into insurance and create legal form absolving Wildcliff of responsibility for visitors to sign.
• Let’s draft such a form
• Turn over in staff: Solution is to make contacts, lessons, and information clear for new volunteers to follow in the future
• Language barrier (Afrikaans or Xhosa?) : Solution is to have all the information in English and teachers can translate into first languages if necessary.

Possible Advantages:
• Generate revenue for the reserve: conservation fees for visitors, charge for guided walks, lectures, presentations (Should we ask for a fee for educational visits? Let’s establish a fee – say R40/p. it can be waived for disadvantaged groups)
• Possible sales of field guides, reference and educational materials Or possibly an all-in fee that includes a guided hike and printed guide?It’s hard to actually make money from small-scale publishing
• Fulfill mission of the reserve: promote understanding and appreciation of South Africans’ unique floral heritage
























Education Materials Needed:

Aim of education centre: To inform the general public of the interrelated nature of the ecosystem and biomes of Wildcliff; to educate the general public in the area of conserving the natural beauty of the Western Cape.

PHASE ONE:

1. Accessible library?

2. Binder with all research projects/data in Education Centre so visitors can understand active research taking place at Wildcliff

3. Information on the following:
Mammals
• Mammal ID Booklet: Large A5 book, laminated, with easily accessible information about mammals at Wildcliff, including habitat, food, tracks, fun facts
• Shelves for skeleton parts; skeletons and labels
• Large map of the reserve with habitats marked for known fauna; use this to show importance of an ecosystem
Birds
• Poster with birds common to Wildcliff
• Listening station for bird calls (tape, walkman, headphones)
Insects
• Mickhail’s insect survey
• Large Spider photos
Reptiles and herps
• Help from Njal?
Fynbos & biodiversity
• Ericas
• Proteas
• Restios
Indigenous Trees
• Wildekrantz River Trail marked with tree labels
• Wildcliff Nursery for growing indigenous trees, part of restoration program
• History of alien trees in region and importance of restoration
Human impact on the environment

4. Possible collaboration with Heidelberg school group to come for a day of science and nature education and then paint a mural on the inside walls
I’ve spoken with local artist, Louise, of Star Nation Art Studio in town. She currently is doing a mural at one of the local primary schools and runs a community arts project (They did the tablecloth Jenny bought for Talari). She will help liaise and facilitate – depending on the go-ahead from the Wild Cape Trust and subject to building progress in the White House.


Opportunities for Educational Visits to
Wildcliff Nature Reserve
Heidelberg, Western Cape

The Wild Cape Nature Trust is offering an opportunity to visit a new conservation venture, Wildcliff, in the Langeberg Mountains of the Western Cape.
Wildcliff is a Nature Reserve founded by Ian and Jennifer Giddy in 2007. It is owned by the Wild Cape Nature Trust and is held in perpetuity for purposes of conservation and research. Wildcliff consists of 955 hectares, deep kloofs with afro-montane forest, rocky mountaintops and high meadows of Ericas, Proteas, and other fynbos. It borders on the Boosmansbos Wilderness Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A more extensive description of the reserve is provided at www.wildcliff.org.
Wildcliff has a program of hosting resident volunteer researchers who conduct long term studies of the fynbos vegetation and fauna, including primates, avifauna, invertebrates and amphibians. Volunteers participate in other activities too, including eradicating alien vegetation.
Visiting educational groups – teachers and students – are also invited to discover the variety of plants and animals. The volunteers will provide information about the fynbos and forest, and about the wildlife on the reserve. Hiking is possible, as well as hands-on activities. Wildcliff can host day visits (or provide self-catering accommodation for short-term stays of up to 10 people). Visitors are asked to provide their own food and to clean up and remove all their garbage. There is no support staff at Wildcliff. Visits are at the visitors’ own risk.
If you are interested in visiting or bringing a group, contact Emily True, Educational Coordinator, at emily.true@wildcliff.org or telephone her at 028 7222 448.
Directions to Wildcliff
• Wildcliff is northeast of Heidelberg, about 22km by road from the N2 highway.
• Coming from Port Elizabeth/George: Easiest way is to miss out Heidelberg. The turnoff from the N2 is just before Heidelberg (see map). Turn right shortly after the sign pointing to Tradouw Pass (Heidelberg would be the next turning right). (Start your odometer.) Soon turn right again onto the tar road heading north, passing the Golf and Bowling Club on your left. Cross the railroad line. Tar road becomes dirt road. After about 7.7km, turn right at the road marked "Wadrift, Seekoeigat, Gysmanshoek."
• Wildcliff is about 11.4 km from this turnoff. Road zig zags up and up. Cross cattle grid, drive on and slowly descend all the way down to weir (always wet). Drive on up, round and down past pink houses and a white house with a stone wall on right. Continue up for another ~2km and look out for white stone cutting on right (the road is cut out of the stone, very distinctive natural white rock). The gate to Wildcliff is around the corner from here, on the left side of the road. Look for the "Wildcliff" sign.
• Continue 1.7km until you cross a little river. The road can be in really bad shape so take it slowly. After the river, follow the dirt road 800m uphill to the house.
• Coming from Cape Town: Pass entrance to Heidelberg town and carry on to the next turn off to left (no sign). Turn left onto this road then follow the instructions as above.
• Coming from Heidelberg itself: Drive past the BP filling station on your left, Engen on the right, to the first stop street (Fourie St). Turn right and then right again at van Riebeck Street. Cross the Duivenhoks River. Turn left towards the Golf and Bowling Club, and continue as above.
• If lost, call 028 7222 633.


Emily, the proposal was very well described and Jenny and I agree that it is completely in line with the Wildcliff mission. (see some comments in the attached; also a "brochure")

One thing we have often found at Cloudbridge is that visiting groups (or their leaders) want to make some hands-on contribution to the conservation project. At Cloudbridge they want to plant trees; but we often put them to work clearing weeds, building or maintaining trails, constructing benches, or doing little self-contained research projects.

People generally come away with a feeling of satisfaction if they feel they've participated -- accomplished something. Some want to return, and do more.

What do you think we can offer at Wildcliff?

Ian
Emily and Brett,

Your latest ("final") plan is excellent - articulate and well researched.

Jenny has used, for Costa Rica, a useful resource: the Global Invasives database
http://www.issg.org/database/species/search.asp?st=100ss&fr=1&str=

They have a good brochure of the 100 worst: http://www.issg.org/database/species/reference_files/100English.pdf

What do you think about one for Wildcliff? Draw on your Plan, and include summaries and photos...and how people can help?

Ian
Watts, M. (Mandy)
To Suzette
Overberg Water
028 722 8014
072 507 8724
suzette@overbergwater.co.za

(Danie 072 2618459)

Middag Suzette
Dit was goed om met jou to gesels op die telefoon vanmiddag.
My Afrikaans is nie so goed nie so ek sal eder in Engels skryf.

The Name of the Trust is: “The Wildcape Nature Trust”
The name of the reserve is “Wildcliff Nature Reserve”
We are a registered trust and I am one of the trustees together with Ian & Jenny Giddy who live in New York but who are in RSA whenever they can.
Roger Grey from Cape Town is another trustee.
And Roger Gush (Also from America) is another trustee.
All the trustees are originally from RSA and have Conservation in South Africa as a big priority.
The Trust is privately funded and as yet does not receive any funds from outside organizations.

As discussed I will be at Wildcliff during the weekend of 14, 15 & 16 June 2008.
I would really like to meet with you then so that we can begin the process for clearing at Wildcliff as soon as possible.
We have tried to contact Derek Malan in Belville in the Department of Forestry and Water. At this stage he has not been able to give us any commitment for the future but he has said that he would like to come and look at the property.

Peter
15.05.2008.

Our contact details are as follows:
Peter Giddy (ID Number 5101055037080)
23 Mill Park Road
Port Elizabeth
peter@wildcliff.org
082 550 3174
041 5823793 (work)
041 3748191 (home)
041 585 4797 (Fax)

Ian & Jenny Giddy
ian@wildcliff.org
Wildcliff Telephone numbers: 028 7222 633
028 7222 448

Brett Nope is a volunteer on the Reserve and he will be willing to show you around the property.
If you struggle to get hold of Brett it will be because he is out of the house and the Cell Phone Reception is not good there.
Just get hold of me & I will ask him to phone you.


Peter
15.05.2008.


Morning Tom
It was good to talk to you again.
I want to confirm a few details regarding the work that is to be done at Wildcliff:
Peter Giddy email: peter@wildcliff.org or pgiddy@jdg.co.za
Telephone numbers: 082 550 3174; 041 5823793; 041 3748191
Fax number 041 585 4797

Ian & Jenny Giddy: email: ian@wildcliff.org
Telephone number in South Africa: 076 665 0290
Telephone numbers at Wildcliff: Talari (Main House) 028 7222 633 and Heron house: 028 7222 448.

Wildcliff is a Nature Reserve which is controlled by a number of Trustees of which Ian, Jenny & I are part.
All payments that we will make to you or to other contractors come from the Trust account and not from any corporate donor or Government organization. As such we have to be very careful as to how we spend money and to whom we make payments. Every Rand spent is precious to us and must be spent wisely and economically.

We envisage entering into a contract with yourself to clear Wattle and Pine from the Wildcliff Reserve as discussed. The initial period will be for two working weeks leading up to the 13th June 2008. Payment for this will be R2750 X 8 days = R22 000.
During the time while you are working at Wildcliff you will have access to accommodation in the Heron House which is presently occupied by Volunteers.
You will provide your own Linen, Towels, Cleaning materials and provisions.
The toilets are septic tanks and should be used accordingly.
Refuse should be carried back to town in black bags.
The Cell phone reception is not good at the houses and we have telephones for receiving calls only.
All personal calls must be made through individual Cell phones and can be done by walking 100 to 200meters up the hill.

You will be acting as an independent contractor and as such must provide for the training & safety of the workforce, the machinery and tools used, Transport to the workplace, their individual payment, all legal requirements etc.
I will be happy to look at the work agreement & plan that you discussed. Please fax it to the above number.

I plan to be at Wildcliff late on 13.06.2008 and would want to see the clearing that you have done. I will be able to do this on Saturday 14.06.2008.

Please let me have your banking details as payment will be made electronically.
Peter
15.05.2008.


Jenny told me tonight that Bob Brown had met with a lady from Heidelberg who heads (?) the local Working for Water group. He took her over to van Stadens, where she could see Wildcliff, and she said they would definitely come and work on Wildcliff "next year"

Jenny will ask Bob to give her the lady's name and contact info.

Ian