Green group needs your help
Leisure Bay Conservancy struggles to fund its many environmental activities.
BUSHBUCK, common and blue duiker, otter, water mongoose, genet and a wonderful selection of raptors and other birds are among the creatures that share Leisure Bay with its human residents.
Members of the Leisure Bay Conservancy look after the town’s natural wealth in many different ways. Funding these activities is always a challenge and conservancy members say they would not be able to do without a monthly subsidy from the Leisure Bay Ratepayers’ Association. Regular holidaymakers and residents of this green town, which is more like a game reserve than a holiday village, are urged to ensure the financial viability of the conservancy.
Run by volunteers, the conservancy pays wages and buys protective and working clothing for three labourers. With these expenses to pay each month, conservancy members are always most grateful for financial assistance, no matter how small the donation. Contact Jenny Koen at jenny.koen@telkomsa.net or 082 857 3363 for information.
The conservancy also beautifies beach entrances, maintains the beach and shoreline paths, does regular water testing and follow-ups, looks after the dunes, conducts snare patrols, controls alien plants, plants trees and takes part in beach cleaning. It also monitors environmental issues like the illegal removal of protected plants, free-roaming dogs and other contraventions of environmental legislation.
Last month conservancy members were involved in an alien plant control and dune rehabilitation exercise when they removed three non-indigenous casuarina trees from the south side of Kidd’s beach and placed the branches, minus the seeds, at the base of a steep section of vegetated dune to protect a vulnerable section of bare sand from human encroachment.
Residents are asking about workers in green overalls on Mamba Kop, a conserved area. They are from the organisation ‘Working for the Coast’ and are helping the conservancy with alien plant removal.
