Koppie is off-limits for the winter season.
The Lonehill Koppie has been temporally closed till the next season.
If you’ve been yearning to scale the Lonehill Koppie and haven’t had the chance yet, the time to explore the stunning natural beauty of the koppie and experience the breathtaking views from its summit has unfortunately come to an end until the next season.
On May 6, the koppie closed due to the approaching winter months. This period of inactivity allows the koppie to recover from the heavy foot traffic it experiences during the summer season.
Read more: Three-koppie group hike
The closure helps to preserve the food sources for the diverse range of wildlife that call the koppie home, including dassies, reptiles, and insects. This conservation effort ensures that the ecosystem within the koppie remains in balance, allowing the wildlife to thrive and maintain their natural habitat undisturbed.
Lonehill Residents Association environment manager Nadeem Abrahams said, “We assess the walking paths and carry out required maintenance on the bush, veld, woody plants, and trees during this time. We also take this opportunity to remove invasive plant species. The Green Team works extensively during the winter months on the koppie to ensure its ecosystem is healthy and strong enough to reopen in spring.”
The association was granted permission to protect the Lonehill Koppie by the provincial heritage resources authority. The association has recently asked for help with beautifying the Lonehill dam after the beautiful willow tree, which’s been a mainstay of the area, was blown over by the wind in a rainstorm in April.
Abrahams said the tree was iconic because it had been growing on a little island in the Lonehill dam for as long as he can remember.
Also read: Guided group hike through Melville Koppies Central
“Thousands of residents and visitors to the Lonehill Park and restaurants have taken photographs of the Lonehill Koppie with the ínfamous willow tree in the forefront which was always full of white egrets and herons nesting.
“We were all a bit sad and concerned about the birds and their nests but as the days passed, we noticed that they remained in the tree and living life as if it never toppled over.
“We are always asking the residents of Lonehill, Beverley and Pineslopes to consider financial donations to the Lonehill Community Improvement Initiative. Residents have the option to donate as and when they have the means to do so, or they can sign up for a monthly debit order. Details: 011 465 9196.”
The Lonehill Koppie will reopen on September 7.
Related article: Norscot Koppies and Kingfisher Nature Reserve AGM
