Family Fun Day at Botanical Garden a huge success
Residents flocked to the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden for their annual fun day.
The Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden was a hive of early morning activity on Saturday, September 13, at the start of the Black Eagle Mountain Run and the Black Eagle Project Roodekrans Family Day.
Sponsors, runners, and families looking to enjoy a fun-filled day in the outdoors, supported the event en-masse, taking part in all the activities on offer and browsing through the many stalls.
Entertainment was provided by the talented local band Celtic Blue, led by Roodekrans Neighbourhood Watch (RNW) chairperson Andreas Oberlechner.
• Also read: Mountain Run hits the peak
According to Black Eagle Project Roodekrans chairperson Gerald Draper, the event could not have gone better.
“We had perfect weather,” he says. “We were a little worried when it started to get a little chilly and windy early on, but the sun pushed through and made for the ideal conditions.
“We were so thrilled with the huge support from our sponsors, vendors, and of course, the visitors that came through to enjoy the day. We could not have asked for better.”
• Also read: Little eagle, big news
The market stalls alone were a breath of fresh air, consisting among others of various local conservation-focused organisations including the SANParks Honourary Rangers, Keeping the West Wild, Friends of Kloofendal, Wild Africa Experience, Wild Orchids South Africa and the Succulent Society.
The event featured a lot of kids’ entertainment as well, with face painting, various games and competitions, and, of course, the obligatory jumping castles.
• Also read: Roodekrans black eagles: First photos of new chick emerge
Black Eagle Project Roodekrans monitors were out in full force, keeping a firm eye on the eagle nest where Juve 25 is expected to fledge at any second.
According to monitor Greg Allen, all eyes and lenses are trained on the nest.
“Unfortunately, the little eagle does not seem to share our excitement about his impending first flight,” he says.
The annual Black Eagle Mountain Run and Family Day is held in aid of the Black Eagle Project Roodekrans and their conservation partners in the Sugarbush Ridges Coalition, who do a lot of work behind the scenes, including funding two full-time park rangers that patrol the Roodekrans Ridge and Kenmare Kloof up to the R28, and have had massive success in combatting poaching of wildlife and protected plants and trees.
