Umtamvuna Views: Darrel is nuts about macadamias
His farm ‘Sea View’ won the award for ‘highest sound kernel over 100 tons’ in the country.
LOCAL farmer Darrel Wichmann travelled to Nelpruit recently to attend The Southern African Macadamia Growers’ Association’s (Samac) industry awards. His farm ‘Sea View’ won the award for ‘highest sound kernel over 100 tons’ in the country. Darrel and his family have been farming macadamias for 18 years.
Good luck
Matric exams are in full swing and students have been ‘burning the midnight oil’ to prepare. There will soon be a new intake of job seekers and university entrants and hopefully they will all find opportunities.
Lest we forget
The Splash Rock Moth Shellhole in Port Edward held its annual Remembrance Day service last Sunday in the Garden of Remembrance. Pastor John Pretorius led the service and the group of about 40 sang and remembered those millions of young soldiers who died in the two World Wars and other conflicts.
Scenic hike
A group of hikers, mainly from Port Edward, set off from the Wild Coast recently and trekked 13km along the rugged shoreline to the Nyameni River mouth. They spent the night in a fishing cottage and headed off the next morning for Mtentu River mouth, some 12km further south.
A few of the older, more ‘incapacitated’ members travelled all the way in a 4×4 taxi. Four sociable, energetic days were spent at the lodge where the dozen hikers enjoyed first class food, canoe trips up the river and lovely scenic hikes. Although the weather was not on its best behaviour, there were a few lovely spells of calm, sunny weather. The hike back was very difficult as there was a vicious headwind all the way. Everyone returned home exhilarated after a wonderfully interesting trip, well organised by Jeanie West.
Good news
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park (Sodwana area) which incorporates one of UNESCO’s 49 global marine World Heritage Sites, is expanding its Marine Protected Area (MPA) to become the biggest in the South African network. Recently, the Department of Environmental Affairs announced that cabinet had approved a network of 20 new MPAs that are representative of South Africa’s rich coastal and ocean biodiversity. This will increase protection of the ocean around South Africa from 0.4 to 5 percent.
ALSO READ : Umtamvuna Views: Deryck sadly loses the battle
Slither into summer
As the weather warms up, snakes will be out and about. Please remember that most snakes are pretty harmless and will choose to get out of your way. The exception to that rule is the black mamba, which is not black. They can be dark olive green, greyish brown or gunmetal grey, but the inside of the mouth is jet black. This is South Africa’s largest – with an average length of 3m – poisonous snake and is very dangerous, and nervous. It hunts during the day and stays mainly high up in trees and their young are just as venomous as adults.
All news to Philippa.
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