February’s bird of the month is the Blackcollared Barbet (Lybius torquatus).

The early 19th century was a period of massive upheaval in the Magaliesberg region. Vincent Carruthers, author of the "The Magaliesberg", has produced an exciting story of this tragic period and the role of Robert Moffat, the missionary, who became Mzilikazi's great friend.This is the first time this story will be told. (New book following later.)

Three course dinner, cash bar and show.

Date: February 10th ( Friday)

Place: Terrace at Meerhof Lodge

Time: 18:30 for dinner on the Terrace

Show: 20:00

Cost: R150.00 pp

Contact: Anna on 072 123 0505 or Mike 082 454 0095

Or email: Mike

The Tshwane emergency services department has warned that residents who set off fireworks without written permission from the chief fire officer will face a fine or jail.

The penalty includes a R5 000 fine and/or six months' imprisonment.

A period of intensive work towards the proclamation of a Nature Reserve/Protected Environment has commenced, and more frequent direct communication is required.   

The bi-annual MTK (MmaTshepo Khumbane) Awards ceremony, organised by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) announced the 2011 winners. The awards serve to recognize and reward individuals, communities and schools which take responsibility for their environment and for people in their care.

The winner in the category of Best Environmental Awareness went to the Rhenosterspruit Nature Conservancy.  The Conservancy won for its 9-year long effort to foster a positive and proactive response to alien invader species.

We have had a good soaking rain.  And large parts of the landscape burned during the winter.  The pom pom is already growing, and can easily be spotted in the burnt veld - so grab the opportunity and get NOW, well before the flowers start.

Experience shows that the pom pom suffers a signifcant setback if treated as this time of the year.   If you wait until you have the visual reminder of shocking pink, it is too late to be as effective.  Once the flower heads are present, so are the millions of seeds for dispersal.

Read our articles on combating pom pom, and get active!  In the end, you save yourself time and money by acting now.

 

Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa has welcomed investigations by the Public Protector into allegations of misusing public funds and resources to campaign for his re-election as chairperson of the ANC's Tshwane region.

Ramokgopa said he would give his full support to the process.

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela announced last week that she would be investigating the mayor on allegations of misusing state funds and resources.

A fascinating walk along time took place in September during the Geology talk with Dr Adam Bumby of the University of Pretoria.  A group walked oldest part of this time line, visible at its "youngest" formation  - the Magaliesberg in the distance, and ending on the oldest formation, the Granite of our own Egoli granite grassland.

The group commenced at Koppie Alleen where the time line stretched out to the north and the various formations could easily be seen.

Magaliesebrg Formation	Rivers	Quartzite
Silverton Formation	Deep marine	Shale / Hornfels
Daspoort Formation	Lakes and rivers	Quartzite
Strubenkop Formation	Lakes and rivers	Mudrock and Quartzite
Dwaalheuwel Formation		Diamictite
Hekpoort Formation	Lavas (Volcanoes)	Basaltic Andesite
Boshoek Formation		Diamictite
Timeball Hall formation	Deep Marine	Shale
Rooihoogte Formation	Rivers and Glaciers	Conglomerate
80 million year time gap of folding, faulting and erosion
Penge Formation (not visible here)	Deep Marine	Banded iron formation
Malmanu Subgroup	Deep Marine	Stromatolitic Dolomite and lesser shale
Black Reef	Rivers	Black reef formation (Quartzite and conglomerate)
300 million year time gap of uplift and erosion
Granite Basement	Subterranean Magma	Granite

Stromatolites in the veld

Biodiversity and the expansion of Protected Areas

The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) is empowered by legislation to support the conservation and protection of Biodiversity.  In 2009 SANBI published its findings in threatened Ecosystems (note, not Vegetation Types).  The map below indicates the three threatened ecosystems in and around the conservancy, while the central region (pale green)  features the new Cradle of Humankind extention of the buffer.

On Sunday 17 July more than sixty people gathered in the beautiful "green classroom" at Bathabile School in Doornrandje for the Conservancy's Annual General Meeting.