Exploring Pigeon Valley: Burning of grassland at Pigeon Valley

This is the 84th article in an ongoing series that highlights the riches of Pigeon Valley, the urban nature reserve in the heart of Glenwood. The focus of this article is on the burning of grassland at Pigeon Valley.

For some time the Friends have been pushing for the grassland on the large reservoir adjacent to the reserve and for the grassland over the small disused reservoir within the reserve to be burnt. People often react anxiously when we speak of this and, indeed, there is a global problem with excessive fire as a result of climate change and the unrestrained greed of developers.

However, limited fire is a normal part of the management of grasslands, and grasslands evolved around the reality of fire every few years. What it does is allow sunlight to penetrate to ground level; it warms up the soil in spring and encourages germination, allowing the introduction of new species and thus increasing biodiversity. It prevents trees from taking over the grassland, thus keeping the balance between forest and grassland.

Formerly the grassland over the main reservoir was mowed and was like a lawn; after Durban Water let it grow wild and it was later burnt, there was a remarkable increase in the number of plant species.

ALSO READ: Exploring Pigeon Valley: Zitting Cisticola

So on the 17th September a team from Working for Fire came to burn the grasslands; they are very experienced in this and work quickly. For example, the team leader explained to me that they do not burn from the side where the wind is coming, as this will burn too fast and could trap wildlife. The whole area burnt in about 30 minutes – the only part that perturbed me was when fire got into dead growth on the tall Strelitzia nicolais, the Wild Bananas.

The sudden whoosh of flame showed how fast fire could spread in a forest. However, the process went smoothly and efficiently and the team soon went on their way. It was remarkable to see insects fleeing the fire, and also how some plant life is so well adapted. The flower on a small African Potato plant, Hypoxis hemerocallidea, was unscathed and the plant has already grown further.

Two days later three Little Bee-eaters, rare at Pigeon Valley, arrived, bringing splashes of coloured to the stark landscape. We plan to have a volunteer group going through the burnt area as soon as plants have started to regrow; this gives us a great opportunity to remove alien plants.

Crispin Hemson chairs the Friends of Pigeon Valley, a group that undertakes clearing of alien plants, keeps records of bird and mammal sightings and alerts management to any problems.

The Friends have a monthly walk at 7.30am on the second Saturday of each month. Email: friendsofpigeonvalley1@gmail.com.

Do you want to receive news alerts via Telegram? Send us a message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.

You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts

Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple