Babylonstoren is a wine farm located at the foot of the Simonsberg mountains in the Franschhoek wine valley. It is well known for its quality wines and luxurious accommodation including a hotel, spa, restaurants as well as the incredible gardens.

Although I’ve written about this garden before (previous blog) there is so much to share about this place that I think I will probably create a new post eacht time I visit! In fact, I think this is a garden that one can visit weekly and still not fail to learn something new. There is so much to see and learn - this botanical wonderland is a place to inspire and delight.

Interactive water feature highlighting the reptiles endemic to the area - watch out for the Spitting Cobra!

The garden was designed by French architect Patrice Taravella and based on the formal layout of the historic Company Gardens in Cape Town. Those gardens were originally built by Jan van Riebeek to provide food for the ships that stopped over on their way to India. Hence, there is a strong focus on fruit trees and edible planting and the gardens are continuously expanding to include cultivars that were thought to be lost. The farm not only produces wine but also fruit, olives and vegetables. The food that is grown on the farm is also used by the two restaurants on site who adapt their menus seasonally to accommodate what is available from the garden.

I listened to a webinar given by Ernst van Jaarsveld before my latest visit (see link to video below). Ernst van Jaarsveld is a renowned botanist who has authored several books, discovered several new species and contributed extensively to the botanical realm. He worked for SANBI (mostly at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens) for 41 years and has now worked for Babylonstoren for the past 6 years. He complimented the owners Koos and Karen Bekker and explains how they want to create a destination that not only celebrates the history of the Cape but also a place that celebrates the creation of the vernacular specific to this region. Language and words are important (the name Babylonstoren references the story of the Tower of Babel), and one can find several references to words, poetry and language throughout the gardens.

Ernst outlines several of the latest projects they have undertaken over the past few years including: the new cycad garden, the welwitschia garden, the spice room and the wine museum. They are continuously adding to their gardens and there are plans to expand by purchasing neighbouring land.

Succulent House with all Pots hand made by the late artist Ronnie van der Walt

Ernst explained the detail that went into designing and implementing the creation of the Welwitschia Garden. These plants are endemic to Namibia where there is almost no water and very high temperatures. Heat pipes were laid below a bed of imported red Kalahari sand and the plants were protected from rain. Petrified wood was imported as well as unique and sculptural rocks.

A special biome garden has been introduced that showcases the beauty and diversity of South Africa’s botanical treasures. There is also a medicinal garden honouring the plant knowledge used by the San. There are many layers to this garden - it not only celebrates history and heritage but encourages education and conservation of the beauty, botany and significance of the vernacular we know as South Africa.

I was particularly impressed by the new wine museum which feels more like an art gallery than a museum. It details the origin, cultivation and culture of the history of wine and how this has changed over time. One wall has hundreds of different wine openers on display. A visual feast and authentic experience.

Look out for specialist tours such as garden tours or birding excursions held on a regular basis. A small entry fee is payable for day visitors or look into the annual pass if you plan to visit regularly.

www.babylonstoren.com

If there is one garden you can visit in South Africa then this should be it. ~ G.S

Like many people who have lived in Johannesburg for many years (some even their whole lives!) I had never visited the nature reserve in the heart of Johannesburg.

I had heard so much about it - the beautiful views, the amazing birdlife (over 200 spp), the incredible flora and the rich history that this nature reserve held so I was so excited to finally visit it. I met with a group of friends in the Marks Park Sport Club parking lot off Judith Road and we crossed carefully to enter the Main Gates framed by stone walls.

The reserve has recently changed its opening times to every Sunday morning from 8 to 11.30am. Visitors are welcomed on arrival by volunteers and given a map so that they can explore the trails at their own pace. The cost is R80 per adult and R40 per child and all proceeds are used towards the maintenance of the Park. Guided tours for small groups can be arranged.

The Central section was proclaimed a nature reserve in 1959 and is a declared national heritage site. The 50ha area can be explored through pathways and there are information boards detailing the heritage and history of the area as well as the fauna and flora to be found there.

The reserve is made up of three sections namely Melville Koppies Central, Melville Koppies East and Melville Koppies West. The East and West sections are open public space and access is not controlled. The East side is only 10ha in size and is frequented by dog walkers while the West section is 100ha large and borders the Westpark Cemetery. There are security issues here so it is advisable to only hike in groups with security. I was surprised to see security guards actively patrolling the nature reserve (Central) when we visited on Sunday and this really added to a sense of safety which is always a concern when visiting public spaces in Johannesburg.

Map from the Melville Koppies Website (www.mk.org.za/mkcal.htm)

Map of Melville Koppies Central Walking Paths

More information on the geology of the reserve can be found on their website www.mk.org.za

Vegetation

The vegetation of the Koppies is entirely indigenous and is a remarkable example of the richness of highveld grasses, flowers, and trees so close to a city centre. The variety of the flora can be seen in the 500 identified species within the eight undisturbed plant communities that have been identified. There are also 56 species of grass recorded and the dominant trees include Acacia robusta, Acacia caffra, Euclea crispa (Blue Guarri), Celtis africana (White Stinkwood), Brachylaena rotundata and (Mountain Silver-oak). The Protea caffra and Mundelea sericea (Corkbush) were also lovely to see.

Along the western boundary where the Westdene Spruit flows a beautiful riverine forest can be found with large Celtis africana (White Stinkwood), Combretum erythrophyllum (River Bushwillows), Olea europea (Wild Olive), and Kiggelaria africana (Wild Peach). The trees were planted in the 1960s to show people how beautiful our indigenous trees are. This part of the reserve is known as the Arboretum and was a highlight for me - the flowing water is calming and the trees beautiful and shady.

Water

This stream, the Westdene Spruit, is one of the many streams flowing north from the Witwatersrand watershed. Among them are the Braamfontein Spruit and the Jukskei, and they all eventually join the Limpopo River, which enters the Indian Ocean at Xai-Xai in Mozambique.

History

Melville Koppies carries evidence of ancient hunter-gatherers, early farmers as well as the first iron-age miners of the Witwatersrand. In 1989 Professor R J Mason published a "Guide to Archaeology Sites: Johannesburg". The purpose of the paper was as much to inform and educate the public as to make a plea for greater awareness of the heritage we are losing.

He identified seven archaeological sites on what we call Melville Koppies Central: African Iron Furnace Models; A second Tswana Iron Furnace; Tswana hut floor and pottery - 300 years old; 1880s gold prospecting; 1900s gun emplacement and Early 1900s quarries. There are information boards and examples of some of the tools and implements on display at the lecture hall.

The fascinating history of how the original Braamfontein farm passed to Louw Geldenhuis during the gold rush in 1886 and how the northern suburbs evolved out of this can also be viewed on an information board at the lecture hall.

Volunteers

The nature reserve would not be what it is today without the involvement of passionate and dedicated volunteers. The Melville Koppies Management Committee works hard to maintain the paths, control alien invasive vegetation, pick up litter and control illegal access to maintain the reserve on an ongoing basis. They also are always looking for ways to raise money for the reserve so that the salaries of the staff they employ can be paid as well as the additional security they hire.

Richard Hall devoted over 25 years to the maintenance of Melville Koppies and together with David Mpilo, a Council worker they tackled projects of cleaning, weeding and restoring the reserve. Wendy Carstens began to work with Richard Hall from 1997 and is still actively involved today. She received the honorary Ellen Kuzwayo award from the University of Johannesburg for ‘Her commitment to conservation and tourism at Melville Koppies’.

How can you help

You can help firstly by visiting (have you?) and also by making donations to Melville Koppies (bank details on their website) or by registering them as a MySchoolMyVillageMyPlanet beneficiary.

Contact Wendy Carstens wendavid@mweb.co.za for further information. www.mk.org.za

We loved our time spent at Melville Koppies and will definitely be back again! Thank you to all those involved in the upkeep and running of this historical and ecological gem.