Indigenous plant rehabilitation begins at Renishaw Hills’ development on the South Coast
Renishaw Hills, the new mature lifestyle village on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, is centred on the natural beauty of the region with a focus on restoring the indigenous flora throughout the development. This belief is behind the indigenous rehabilitation project being led by renowned South African landscaper and botanist, Elsa Pooley, with assistance from a leading expert in rehabilitation in KZN, Geoff Nichols. Pooley’s passion for the natural flora and fauna of the KwaZulu-Natal region started during her time living and exploring game reserves in Zululand. A founder member of the Botanical Artists’ Association of Southern Africa, Pooley has been awarded an honorary doctorate of science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, won the prestigious Marloth Medal of the Botanical Society of South Africa, the Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Contribution to Botany as well as being named the KZN Wildlife and Environment Society’s Conservationist of the Year in 1996. She has published a number of bestselling field guides to plants of the region and has resided in the South Coast region for more than two decades. Her work as an indigenous landscaper includes the Durban Beachfront upgrade and both large and small gardens and developments from the coast to the Drakensberg and Zululand. She is joined on her team by Kenyan-born Nichols who holds national diplomas in Agriculture, Horticulture and Parks and Administration. Nichols was named Conservationist of the Year by the KwaZulu-Natal (1987) and uMhlanga (2001) branches of the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa. He has also published a number of books and long-running indigenous gardening columns in magazines. He was responsible for the landscape planning for the original Mt Edgecombe estate with Ben Breedlove, and went on to manage landscaping and rehabilitation at Zimbali Forest Estate from its inception. The Renishaw Hills’ project, which is already underway, aims to return the area, as closely as possible, to its original form, removing alien vegetation while planting local species to enhance the region’s biodiversity. This is being funded by Renishaw Property Developments – a subsidiary of Crookes Brothers Limited, the JSE stock exchange-listed organisation driving the Renishaw Hills development near Scottburgh. The first phase of the rehabilitation has already begun with the cutting down of invasive alien trees, including gum trees and other Australian species. Those on very steep slopes, have been ringbarked. “Although the trees are being cut down, the stumps will remain, leaving the root system in place so as to prevent erosion,” explained Pooley. “As these gum trees use a lot of water, the area will soon see a big improvement in the water supply with their removal.” Every aspect of the work, which is being performed in conjunction with Mpambinyoni Conservation Development’s estate manager, Gareth Hampson, strictly follows the guidelines of the Environmental Impact Assessment that was carried out in preparation for the development. All plants being removed are category 1 and 2 on the government’s alien invasive plant species list, rendering their removal necessary. The tree removal stage will only last a few months, although the Renishaw team will continue in the elimination of all other alien invasives. Clearing IAPs is a tough, work-intensive process that requires regular follow-ups. It will continue as part of the regular estate management to ensure there is no re-emergence of the opportunistic plants. “Because of the size of the project the restoration and rehabilitation will be done in stages,” explained Pooley. “The biggest mistake one can make is to try and work over the whole large area. It is important to ensure that the areas cleared remain clear of alien plants. Without regular follow-up work the land can revert quite quickly.” The project has created about 80 new jobs with all staff receiving thorough training. The trainee manager holds a diploma in horticulture and is currently undergoing training in the various aspects of practical gardening, garden maintenance and staff control. To ensure the plants used in the rehabilitation are local, they are being sourced from the Renishaw estate which has large areas of undisturbed natural forest, bush, grasslands and wetlands. The Izinyoni Indigenous Nursery at Crocworld Conservation Centre has been set up specifically to produce enough of the correct plant material for returning natural vegetation to the estate. The nursery boasts one of the biggest ranges of indigenous flowers, trees and shrubs in the country. The final result of the project will see a vast improvement in the biodiversity of the area, bringing with it an abundance of natural bird, insect and animal-life. The wetlands will potentially become great birding areas while managing the heavy rainfall more efficiently than the current farming systems. Phillip Barker, managing director of Renishaw Property Developments, said that, although the rehabilitation project was a vast undertaking, the developers were committed to ensuring it was done properly from start to finish. “Elsa and Geoff have vast experience in the field of vegetation rehabilitation with a real knowledge and understanding of South African plants. They are providing essential guidance to the teams under them, ensuring this knowledge and commitment to the indigenous flora and fauna continues throughout the development,” said Barker. “Although we are in the early stages of development, positive changes will quickly start to emerge as the sugar cane fields revert to magnificent rolling grasslands, forest and wetlands – an area of abundant natural beauty.”
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
2 Bed Maisonette
R2530 – R2891
2 Bed Houses
R2915 – R3078
3 Bed House
R3133 – R3382
At Renishaw you can enjoy a wide range of benefits which are included as part of the levies.
24hr Security
Basic Health Care Services
Communal Facilities
Wifi
Fibre Optic Connectivity for DSTV
Insurance
Maintenance
W&L used in Communal Facilities
Full Garden Service
Refuse Service
Postal Service
RENISHAW ESTATE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION
As a non-profit company, this body administers the greater Renishaw Coastal Precinct, including Renishaw Hills. They also promote and protect the interests of all property owners on the estate, with an elected board of directors acting as the governing body. Membership includes all owners plus representatives of the developer, Renishaw Property Developments (Pty) Ltd, during the development period.
Renishaw Property Developments, a subsidiary of Crookes Brothers Ltd, is the developer of Renishaw Hills. The involvement of JSE-listed Crookes Brothers Limited guarantees administration with integrity, transparency and professionalism at all times.
Formed in terms of the Sectional Titles Act, this body governs and protects the interests of Sectional Title Owners within Renishaw Hills. It also allows owners to play their part in keeping our status as one of KwaZulu-Natal’s most treasured gated mature villages.