Dear Member,
This month, we’re shining a light on the wonderful progress being made at the Community Garden, a true celebration of teamwork, growth, and sustainability. We also bring you some good news on the environmental front, highlighting how community action continues to make a real difference in protecting our natural surroundings. Finally as spring is upon us we focus on the importance of bees in sustaining our eco system.
The Community Garden – A Shared Treasure
Nestled between St Francis Bay Village and Santareme, at the bottom of Harbour Road, the Community Garden is a true haven for birds and small creatures from chameleons and frogs to skinks and butterflies. It’s a living example of what can be achieved when people come together to care for their environment.
There’s something truly special about this garden as it exists entirely through the care and dedication of local residents. The Kromme Enviro Trust extends heartfelt thanks to Dr and Mrs Potts, Ed and Dusty Elton, and The Links, who quietly and consistently keep the garden thriving. They cut, prune, weed, plant, and clear away garden refuse, maintaining its balance between being beautifully natural and gently tamed.
Filled with indigenous coastal flora, the garden is a wonderful spot for dog walkers, ramblers, or anyone enjoying the Two Harbours Trail. Whether you’re taking a gentle stroll, watching the birdlife, or letting children run and explore, it’s a reminder of how beautiful and resilient our natural spaces can be when cared for by the community.
Find out more on our website: stfranciskrommetrust.co.za/community-garden
Good News for the Sand River Dune System
As many of you know, the Kromme Enviro Trust has been working to have the Oyster Bay Dune Field declared a nature reserve. This remarkable landscape is valued for its biodiversity and archaeological heritage, and it is the last functioning headland bypass dune system in South Africa, a truly unique national asset. It is an ecological treasure that deserves protection, not exploitation.
A few months ago, the Trust, together with concerned residents, opposed a sand mining application on a property forming part of the Sand River system. The Sand River dunes act as a vital natural corridor, moving sand along the coast to replenish beaches, stabilising the landscape, and providing habitat for indigenous plants and wildlife.
Thanks to the commitment of our community, with many people signing the petition and the Trust submitting a detailed formal objection, we are delighted to share that the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has rejected the application. This is a significant victory for conservation and for everyone who values the fragile beauty of our coastal environment.
This achievement shows what can be done when our community works together, proving once again that a united voice can make a real difference.
Other News The Buzz About Bees — Small Creatures, Big Impact
As the flowers bloom and the air hums with life, it’s impossible not to notice the quiet but vital work of bees. These tiny pollinators play an outsized role in maintaining the balance of our ecosystems, helping plants reproduce, supporting food production, and ensuring the diversity of our natural world.
Sadly, bee populations across the globe are under pressure from habitat loss, pesticides, climate change, and disease. Here in South Africa, the Cape honeybee (Apis mellifera capensis) and its cousin, the African honeybee (Apis mellifera scutellata), are critical to pollinating crops and wild flora alike, yet they face many of the same challenges.
Every garden, no matter how small, can help. Planting bee-friendly indigenous species, avoiding chemical sprays, and providing clean water sources are simple actions that support these tireless pollinators.
For more information about bees check out the national bee keepers association, full of useful information. https://beekeepers.co.za/honey-bee-facts