School opts to assist nature reserve on a monthly basis
The New Germany Nature Reserve is hoping to form a management committee of Friends of the Nature Reserve committee.
AFTER visiting the New Germany Nature Reserve on photography club outings, the pupils and staff of Atholl Heights Primary School, found that the reserve is severely underfunded at present, resulting in the bird and animal aviary among other sections falling into a bad state of disrepair.
The school decided to add the reserve to its community outreach programme and have started many projects to assist the reserve.
The school principal, Lloyd Wing, said its a great partnership with the nature reserve, since they are neighbours and charity begins at home.
“We are doing an animal and bird feed collection every week, offering labour over weekends and have had bumper stickers printed, which we will sell to generate funds,” said Wing.
Food Lovers Market Blair Atholl donates a tray of fruit and vegetables on a weekly basis helping the pupils to feed the birds and smaller animals at the reserve.
Reserve manager, Nic Liebenberg, said paw paws have been a huge help in the aviaries, but the reserve also has guinea pigs, dassies, rabbits, blue and grey duiker to feed.
The school has sent a newsletter to pupils and parents mentioning all the items the reserve needs, including tools and has opted to support the reserve every month.They will be selling stickers at R10 each, which are available through the school. All proceeds from the sale of stickers will go to the nature reserve.
Liebenberg said he was negotiating with procurement to get other animals such as impala, zebra, and possibly bush buck and red duiker into the nature reserve in the near future.
He said he would also like to form a management committee or Friends of the Nature Reserve committee to help run programmes at the reserve. Those interested can contact Nic on 031 262 8239 or e-mail: naturenic@webafrica.org.za
