Melville Koppies – 41 days of lockdown notes
More than 600 days ago our lives changed when we were confined to our homes because of this thing called the ‘coronavirus’.
For Wendy Carstens, who manages Melville Koppies on behalf of the Melville Koppies management committee, her daily work and exercise on the Koppies degenerated into monotonous laps around the garden.
Undaunted, she was inspired by Italian poet and scholar, Boccacio. “During the Black Death in Italy in the 14th Century, he and 10 young Florentines went into seclusion in a villa for 10 days”, she said.
“While they were there, each person told a story every day – hence 100 stories, most of them with the themes of love and lust.”
Carstens began to write a Melville Koppies-related snippet every day and posted it on Melville Koppies Facebook page.
Other Melville Koppies volunteers (school-going ones too) joined her.
There were lots of things to love, and maybe even some lusty titbits while volunteer Anthony Paton updated the page with his passion for birds – the feathered kind.
And when the first lockdown was extended, the daily snippets continued until 41 days was reached.
You can read all these posts HERE.
And now you can visit the koppies in person.
For other members of the public, Melville Koppies Central (Nature Reserve and Heritage Site) is open every Sunday from 08:00 to 11:30 and there is no need to pre-book.
Cost is R80 per adult and R40 for children with season tickets at R500 (not transferrable) also available.
All income is used for the maintenance and security of the Koppies. Security on the Koppies is provided. Park in secure parking opposite the entrance at Marks Park on Judith Road, Emmarentia.
Contact wendavid@mweb.co.za or visit www.mk.org.za for more detailed information about the history and what you can see.
