Oak Grove Farm joins Fynbos Ecotourism Forum

NUUSBRIEF / NEWSLETTER 8 (2008/11/14)

As usual the Fynbos Ecotourism Forum workshop of the 16th October was a great sucess and all present found it very informative and enjoyable. Steve and Linda Castle of the Stanford Valley Guest Farm hosted the workshop and the beautiful, rustic setting of the venue was in perfect harmony with the theme of the day, “Our feathered Friends”. Wilfred Chivell van Dyer Island Cruises was die eerste spreker en het gesels oor die Brilpikkewyne (Spheniscus demersus) van Dyereiland, waarvoor hy ‘n groot passie het. Die seevoëllewe op die eiland en omliggende kus word veral, soos oral, bedreig deur die onnadenkende optrede van mense en die bewaring daarvan is uiters noodsaaklik. Dyer Island Cruises is nie net ’n lid van die Forum nie, maar as gevolg van Wilfred se passie is die Dyer Island Conservation Trust gestig. Omdat daar vroeër jare ghwano op die eiland geraap was, is die natuurlike habitat van die pikkewyne vernietig, sodat ontmoontlik is om daar te broei. Neste is ontwerp wat op die eiland, asook ander broeiplekke aan die Kaapse kus, geplaas word waarin die pikkewyne kan skuil. Besighede en die algemene publiek kan van die neste aankoop en sodoende help om die bedreigde Brilpikkewyn se voortbestaan te verseker. Besoek gerus die trust se webtuiste, www.dict.org.za om meer van hulle werk te wete te kom. Wilfred se belangrikste boodskap was dat die mens moet ophou mors met God se skepping.
If you visit the Western Cape Birding website (www.westerncapebirding.co.za), you will only find information on the Flamingo Birding Route on the West Coast and the Overberg Birding Route. Dr Anton Odendal, Bird Life Overberg and other role players have launched the Overberg Birding Route during the Stanford Birding Fair in 2004 and they are still working very hard at developing the route. He gave a very interesting talk on the necessity to develop birding routes in the Western Cape and why ecotourism as such would benefit from it. According to Anton, bird watchers are the largest group of ecotourists internationally and they often visit areas outside peak seasons, most likely in the deep rural areas. They spend money where others do not and therefore the local people, as well as the greater region, will benefit greatly through various opportunities, such as guides, accommodation, crafts, etc. For instance Limpopo Birding Route contributes R40 million and Zululand Birding Route R15 million to their respective regional economies on an annual basis. Birding tourism has a much lower impact on the environment as other outdoor activities. In the Overberg we have a diverse bird population and that is why it is essential to develop and market this route. Unfortunately we were not able to enjoy the slide show of birds photographed by Mr Nico Myburgh, as he was in hospital. We hope that he will fully recover soon.
‘n Heerlike middagete is voorafgegaan deur ‘n wynproe wat deur die volgende kelders geborg is: Lomond, Raka en Appelsdrift. Birkenhead Brewery het gesorg vir diegene wat bier verkies en Kleinrivier se kaas het dié proe-sessie afgerond. Ons opregte dank vir die bydrae tot ‘n suksesvolle werkswinkel.
Recently on a British Airways flight from London, while paging through the onflight magazine, a photograph caught my attention, because the place look familiar. It was wonderful to read about Farm 215 as one of the places which Angelina Villa-Clarke recommended in her article Navigator. Congratulations, Maarten and co. We are proud of you.
Bruce and Philippa Castle of Oak Grove Farm has joined the Forum and we welcome them and hope they will benefit from our organization. For more information on the Forum, contact Aletta Groenewald, tel 028 388 0551, or Mariaan Burger, tel 028 388 0384
Mariaan Burger.