MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Death to the Aliens

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A recent fire in the Baakens Valley Area known as Wellington Park has resulted in alien vegetation rearing it’s unwanted heads in this area in the vicinity of 5th Avenue and Main Road, Walmer.

A local business, LA Casual has adopted this portion of the valley in an effort to keep it free of alien vegetation gaining a foothold once again. Company owner, Krag Lohry has also asked residents to assist with donations of time or staff to pull alien plant seedlings out before they become a forest.

Russell Tucker and Krag have started the ball rolling by committing to pay for two workers to pull Acacia Salinga seedlings out for +/-15 days. Jenny Eldridge has offered to donate trees to plant.

Lohry is calling for as many people as possible to join him and the team on Saturday at the bottom of Main Road, Walmer with your gloves and a trowel if you are able to help.

Krag says; “If this is going to succeed, it must be a grassroots, community effort. So get the word out!”

Morgan Griffiths from WESSA has organized a meeting with society heads with a tentative date of 5 June.

Concerned residents are invited to contact a group leader if you can contribute:

  • Dendrological Society: Lloyd Edwards, 084-552-2277, raggycharters@gmail.com
  • WESSA: Morgan Griffiths, 072-417-5793
  • BotSoc: Clayton Weatherall-Thomas, 083-401-8091, Clayton.Weatherall-Thomas@nmmu.ac.za
  • NMMM: Clyde Scott, 082-415-5264, cjscott@mandelametro.gov.za
  • Baakens Valley Trust: Gwynneth Marmetschke, 083-407-8178, baakenscons@absamail.co.za
  • Krag Lohry: 083-290-0414, krag@lacasual.net
Acacia Salinga
Acacia Salinga or Port Jackson Willow

Acacia saligna is commonly known by various names including coojong, golden wreath wattle, orange wattle, blue-leafed wattle, Western Australian golden wattle, and, in Africa as the Port Jackson willow. It is a a small tree in the family Fabaceae and native to Australia.

Acacia saligna has become an invasive species outside its natural range as a result of numerous traits, three of which have contributed to this species becoming a problem in the Baakens Valley: It produces a large quantity of seeds which can survive fire and germinate after cutting or burning.

South Africa’s recent Working for Water programme focused on the Port Jackson Willow as clearing South African catchment areas of this plant reduced water loss and preserved streamflows.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.