Look Out for Red Stripes on the Skyline
Dear Member,
If you’ve spotted trucks carrying massive turbine blades recently, you’re not imagining things. New turbines are currently being transported and installed at the Impofu wind farms and some of the blades are strikingly different. Look closely, and you may see that a few of the blades have bold red stripes on them.
Why? Because research suggests that these simple markings make blades more visible to birds in flight dramatically reducing bird collisions. It’s a small change with a potentially huge impact. We’re thrilled to announce that, following encouragement from our team, the developers of the Impofu wind farm have agreed to test this lifesaving feature on a sample group of turbines.
This forms part of a broader and rather ground-breaking partnership called the Greater Kromme Stewardship (GKS), this is a collaboration between the Kromme Enviro Trust and five local wind farm operators. Together, we’re working to conserve biodiversity in the region while supporting responsible renewable energy development.
The best part? The wind farms are underwriting the costs of the initiative, setting a national precedent and showing what’s possible when different interests find common ground. It’s rare and refreshing and it’s happening right here.
So next time you see a red-striped blade on the horizon, know that it represents more than just clean energy, it’s a symbol of collaboration and a real win for wildlife.
What’s On
🧹 Coastal Clean-Up Day – 20 September 2025
Join us for International Coastal Clean-Up Day! Details and times will be confirmed closer to the date, but save the morning for a group effort to help protect our beaches and estuary. Gloves, bags, and good vibes provided.
🏆 KLM Community Awards
Huge congratulations to all the winners of this year’s Kouga Local Municipality Community Awards, held on Friday 27thJune. We are especially proud of Stella Plantinga, long-standing KET committee member, who was recognised for her exceptional contribution to environmental protection in our area. A well-deserved honour!
Other news
We recently came upon an interesting article about the Fabulous Fynbos that is abundant on our doorstep, that we would like to share with our members. The article is in fauna-flora.org and talks about some of the extraordinary aspects of the Cape Floral Kingdom. This is the link https://www.fauna-flora.org/explained/fabulous-fynbos-the-extraordinary-plants-and-pollinators-of-the-cape-floral-kingdom/
Thanks to your support and the spirit of collaboration in our community, we’re making real strides for people and planet. For more information check our page https://stfranciskrommetrust.co.za/