Youngsters learn about invasive plants and shells
The children from Pretoria was given the opportunity to learn about invasive alien plants and various shells found on the South Coast.
Port Edward’s Umtamvuna Marine Conservancy (UMC) hosted two groups of Pretoria Voortrekkers during the winter school holidays.
Fifty-three grade 8 Voortrekkers visited the town’s popular Salmon Bay and Grannie’s Pool beaches, where UMC chair Renée Alcock and committee member Bêrendine Jordaan explained to them the purpose of the conservancy and why the dunes, indigenous vegetation and animal population must be protected, and invasive vegetation removed.
Alcock said the children were also allowed to study samples of invasive alien plants and various shells found on the South Coast.
“The weather was on our side, with a gentle wind and sunny skies. Nature treated the children to some specular marine activity, including breaching whales and dolphins showing off their fins and tails and seagulls hunting sardines,” she said.
A week earlier, a younger group visited Port Edward’s Silver Beach, assisting the Port Edward and Banners Rest Ratepayers’ Association (PEBRRA) with a beach cleanup.
Afterwards, the children gathered around Alcock, who told them about the first Portuguese shipwreck off South Africa’s east coast, which sank almost half a millennium ago.
The Sao Joao, a large and richly laden Portuguese ship, sank a mere 300m off Port Edward in 1552.
Alcock said she hopes Voortrekker visits become a regular occurrence at the conservancy.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
