Rheenendal Sunset Road Cleanups On Monday the 19th April the executive committee did a roadside clean up.  In total 45 bags of litter were collected -out of that some 500 glass bottles- now exposed after the fire.  After Numerous meetings with Knysna Municipality we have sadly not yet found a solution to this ongoing problem along the roadsides. More fynbos Pictures Below is a picture of a rare fynbos species called Boophone disticha Oxalis pendulifolia Our Apex Preditor This picture of a healthy adult male leopard was taken on Derek Devine’s property. The Landmark Foundation is currently working on a newsletter which will be providing us all with the latest updates. Rheenendal Fire In February 2010 a devastating fire swept through the Phantom Pass and Rheenendal area. Interestingly the indigenous forest acted as a natural fire break and was hardly affected, whereas areas covered with invading vegetation was burnt to ashes.  This should give us all an incentive to rid our properties of aliens Rare fynbos species ! Johan Baard from Sanparks spent some time walking in the area that was affected by the fire in 2010 recently.  He discovered a couple of very rare species in this area.  The species in the above picture is Oxalis pendulifolia.   Definitely worth conserving don’t you think! Living with Baboons & Monkeys For those interested in how to co-exist with wild Monkeys & Baboons, this presentation and website will offer lots of tips and information.  Click on Info Sign. WORKING for Water Latest Update Here   NOTICE Thanks Gouna Conservancy for sharing your hacking knowledge with us  We had a fabulous time listening, experimenting with all the different tools and  being treated to juice & biscuits LOCAL WEATHER We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.  ~Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732 Our own Fire Fighters! According to Mark van Niekerk (our FPA representative) the Rheenendal Fire Fighting team started their training on the 26 May 2010.  Leopard at Forest Edge Here is a picture of one of several spoor found at Forest Edge this morning. (29/5/2010)  It would appear the leopard was after the donkeys, or at least the donkeys thought so judging from the speeding donkey spoor scattered around!  The spoor in this picture measures just over 9.5cm in length.  More Leopard News A 14 month juvenile male Leopard was captured in a cage on Roger Murray’s farm on June 5th with the intention of collaring it. The leopard is most probably related to the older male that was collared in the area a while ago. The Landmark Foundation decided not to collar the young leopard-as he would outgrow the collar in a few months time. Howard Butcher and Petra ten Velde, from the conservancy committee were privileged to form part of a group of observers. When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves.  ~David Orr COMMUNITY Cleanup Day On Wednesday the 23rd of June a community clean-up day was organised by the Keurhoek community to celebrate the soccer world cup.  Conservancy members and Keurhoek volunteers gathered at the Keurhoek library  at 10 am from where everyone was divided into groups and the clean-up proceeded in Keurhoek and along the Rheenendal Road. The municipality supplied the necessary refuse bags.    It was a great initiative to bring the communities together for a common purpose. In all another 53 bags of litter were collected along the Rheenendal Road. An ongoing project of the conservancy came into being during the 2nd last week of June 2010 as several dustbins donated by the Municipality were erected at strategic points along the Rheenendal road. We urge the public to make use of these facilities. Hacking every Tuesday From 9  - 12 am - get involved! Click on Logo for Landmark’s latest newsletter July2010 We are pleased to share with you that at last week’s Outeniqua Conservancy Forum (2 Oct 2010) our conservancy received an award for “Appreciation of effective communication to conservancy members in the Garden Route area.”  We are also attracting attention elsewhere with an invitation for the Conservancy to become part of KEF (Knysna Environmental Forum)  We urge you to PLEASE get involved! Do you have Ideas or Concerns or News  -  let us know  The environment affects us all- let’s take care of it together.