WITH the largest population of mangrove trees in Durban, and various species of crab, as well as other wildlife, the Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve’s importance cannot be understated.

The North Durban Honorary Officers, a dedicated group of volunteers committed to supporting the environment and conservation at the reserve, host open mornings to help raise awareness and share their knowledge about the 76-hectare reserve.

Durban North resident and honorary officer, Terry Goulding, explained that the reserve plays host to an open day on the third Saturday of every month.

“It is our way of driving awareness on the importance of mangrove trees and the ecosystem it supports. Our open morning also coincides with the monthly #CleanBlueLagoon campaign which is also a worthy cause. On the open mornings, there are a variety of things to do. Our Education Centre, which is home to rare shells and other interesting items, is open for the public to visit.

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“We also offer guided walks with our honorary officers who guide visitors along the boardwalk and point out the various species of crab and mudskippers and share other facts. If you aren’t keen on that, you can always go for self-walks along the raised boardwalks. It is one way to witness the connection between mangrove trees and the wild inhabitants of the reserve,” he said.

According to Goulding, gates open from 08:00 until 13:00, and entrance is free.

He added that there is also a bird walk, which starts at 08:15 sharp.

“We have an ex-honorary officer who takes the group on a walk for two hours around the reserve, looking for different types of birds. There is a booking system which has been set up through our Facebook page (Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve). We are only able to take 10 to 12 people at a time. An important tip to remember is to bring your binoculars.”

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Another important aspect of the Open Morning is the sale of plants which the officers have grown at the reserve’s own nursery.

“The nursery is situated within the reserve and is used by the officers to propagate indigenous species which are then sold to the general public. We hope for the continued support of the greater Durban community to help us grow even further,” he said.

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