Kenneth Stainbank

Walking update… 26 April 2010

T.C. ROBERTSON NATURE RESERVE…

There were only 7 people at Lords and Legends on Sunday morning and my heart sank.  The weather was perfect and we decided that the long week end must have put paid to the normal turn out.  On arriving at T.C. Robertson we discovered that another 8 people were ready and waiting – this made it a lovely group of 15 and off we went.  No bees attacked us and the walk was very pleasant.  We did just over 6 km’s by doing the walk twice.

WESSA are doing a very good job at maintaining the park.  They have recovered a huge section, from alien vegetation, along the banks of the river and have planted over 200 indigenous trees as well as a number of grass varieties to keep future alien plants away.   I had forgotten to mention that there was a R15 per car entrance fee – so for the 7 cars Toti Ramblers have paid R105 out of the Membership fees received.

Keep your eyes open for an invitation in the South Coast Sun and Upper Fever from the TC Robertson Nature Reserve.  They are going to have an evening where a talk will be given on “Bats”.  The cost will be R15 per vehicle once again.  Apparently they plan to put nets in place to catch bats on the day in question.  This should be very interesting and I will be going.  Let me know if any of you are interested as well?

Welcome to visitors and new members

There were no new members but  I think it appropriate to mention that Marion Clerk, who was a member from early on, has left South Africa and has gone back to live in England.  She asked that I said good bye to all her walking buddies. 

Membership fees received:

Membership fees were received from Elize Wheelright, Nigel & Maria Rees, Denise Bailey, June Gray, Beryl Scott and Fay Gregory.  Thanks to you all.

NEXT WALK – 9 MAY 2010

Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve…

Toti Ramblers have done this walk twice before but after our walk on Sunday it was suggested that it would be nice to revisit it again.

The Stainbank family settled in Yellow-wood park in 1857 and they donated the 253 hectares of land to the public.  It consists of Coastal forest which descends to the Umhlatuzana River as well as grassland and bush-clump which surrounds a small dam.  Zebra are also found whilst out walking. 

Directions: The reserve is situated in Coedmore Road in Yellowwood Park.

There is an entrance fee of R15 per person, so please bring this money with you. 

Directions: 
Turn off the freeway at the Edwin Swales Drive/Queensburgh off-ramp, and turn left. After one kilometre, turn right at the Bellair Road intersection, and left along Cliffview Road. Turn left into Sarnia Road and then further along turn right into Coedmore Road at the second set of traffic lights. Continue along this road past the quarries, over the narrow bridge over the Umhlatuzana River , and up the hill until the gates to the reserve are seen on the right.

For those with GPS facilities the co-ordinates are: GPS coordinates: 29 deg 54.79' S, 30 deg 56.51' E

Physical address: 90 Coedmore Avenue, Yellow-wood Park