Support Iphiti Nature Reserve growth
Anno Torr, chairman of the Iphiti Nature Reserve in Gillits, are appealing to local residents and businesses for donations, which are desperately needed to maintain and improve the reserve.
ADMINISTRATORS of the Iphithi Nature Reserve in Gillitts are appealing to local residents and businesses to assist them in not only maintaining, but also improving the reserve for the community.
The 12ha reserve was created 10 years ago by a group of residents who realised that the rehabilitation of the area would not only benefit the community but also the local fauna and flora.
The reserve serves as a safe haven for two bushbuck, dykers, mongooses, dassies and bird life, as well as various indigenous flora.
“We are hoping that the bushbuck will surprise us with a baby,” said Anno Torr, chairman of the reserve.
The reserve is a popular site for bird watchers, but it is also offers anglers the opportunity to catch various fish species.
“Guests are welcome to fish, but the reserve has a catch and release policy,” said Torr.
Braai facilities are also available to the residents, and they are able to walk their dogs in the beautiful reserve, provided the canines remain on a leash.
“We encourage residents to use the reserve, but they need to use it responsibly. People should use the reserve, while retaining the wildlife’s safety. We would also like the residents to see it as their reserve. Their reserve that they need to protect and maintain,” said Torr.
According to Torr, before the reserve was rehabilitated it was used by vagrants. “Vagrants not only pose a threat to the animals and the flora, but also the community,” she added.
Torr hopes to utilise the reserve as a venue to host conferences, weddings and team building projects to raise the much needed funds for the maintenance and improvement of the reserve.
“We have two staff members that maintain the reserve on a regular basis, but we would like to put more effort into removing the alien plants within the reserve,” said Torr.
She is currently in the process of stocking the reserve with environmentally friendly benches, which are created entirely out of recycled plastic milk bottles.
A total of eight benches have already been donated to the reserve by local residents and organisations, such at the Kloof Rotary Club.
“Each bench is created with approximately 2000 recycled plastic milk bottles (two litre)”, said Heidi Boyd, of Enviro Timbers, a company that transforms plastic waste into plastic furniture.
“While we are well supported by the Kloof Rotary Club and the Kloof Conservancy, we do need additional funding in order to adequately maintain and improve the reserve,” said Torr.
Contact Anno Torr on 072 602 5610.
