Friends Meeting 17 September
Vriende Vergadering 17 September 2009
Ons wil julle graag uitnooi na n vergadering van die Vriende van die Moreletakloof. Die Lente het so vinnig gekom en gegaan, nou wag ons net vir n lekker bui rëen, dan sal die Kloof sal weer vinnig herstel van die brande.
Die vergadering word gehou op die 17de September, om 17.30, by die Rademeyers Restuarant, Heliosstraat, Moreletapark. Kom beplan saam met ons wat ons kan doen om hierdie mooi Kloof te bewaar en te versorg en ook om die regte besoekers te lok om dit met ons te deel.
Ons benodig almal se samewerking om n sukses te maak van die Vriende van die Moreletakloof, julle weet hoe mooi dit is en ons moet dit reg bestuur.
Die Notule van die vorige vergadering ( 13 Augustus 2009 ), en die Agenda van hierdie vergadering, is aangeheg. Laat asseblief weet of u die vergadering kan bywoon.
Friends Meeting 17 September 2009
Would you please attend the meeting of Friends of the Moreletakloof, which will be held on the 17th of September 2009 at 17.30, at the Rademeyers Restuarant, entrance in Helios Street, Moreleta Park.
We are just waiting for the first rains, so that the Kloof can turn green again, after all the veldfires.
Please come and assist us in the management of this lovely Kloof. We need to attract the right people to the Kloof, to share our Nature Reserve and enjoy what we experience when we walk among the trees.
The Minutes of the meeting held on the 13th August, and the Agenda for this meeting, is attached.
Please let us know, if you can attend this meeting.
Jeannie du Plessis
Sekretaresse/ Secretary
info@moreletakloof.co.za
Spring is in the air
SPRING IS IN THE AIR : COME FOR A LOVELY WALK IN THE MORELETAKLOOF ( 5TH AND 6TH SEPTEMBER)
Would you like to join me for a long walk, in the cool of the morning, on romatic paths, among tall trees, next to the Moreletaspruit. Bring your family and friends (children enjoy this very much), your camera and something to drink. The walk takes about two hours, but its your choice because there are shorter, well marked roetes, that you can do on your own. You will see Zebra, Rooibok, Springbuck and ostriches on your walks.
There will also be a Green Market at Rademeyers, with many stalls.
If you have not been in the Kloof, you will be very surprised at the serene cool beauty, that will surround you, right in the middle of Moreleta Park.
My first walk will be at 6.30, on Saturdaymorning (the best walk), which will be followed at ten, and three in the afternoon.
On Sunday, we go out at 7, and ten, followed in the afternoon at three.
Come and enjoy nature, at its very best. Entrance in Helios Street, Moreletapark.
NOU IS DIT LENTE, KOM STAP SAAM IN DIE MORELETA KLOOF (5 EN 6 SEPTEMBER 2009)
Kom stap saam met my in die mooie Moreleta Kloof, met die romatiese kronkelende paadjies tussen groot ou bome, langs die Moreletaspruit.
Daar is verskillende roetes maar ek geniet dit om vir twee uur rustig te stap in die varsheid van die oggend, met die natuur op sy beste. Bring u familie(die kinders geniet dit baie) en vriende en geniet die dag saam met ons. Iets om te drink en moet nie die kamera vergeet nie.
Daar is n roete wat regs van hek wegdraai, wat meer gelyk is, en so om en by 3km lank is, tot by die dam.
Daar is ook n Groenmark op Saterdagoggend, by Rademeyers.
My eerste uitstappie begin om 6.30 op Saterdag, die 5 de September, wat gevolg word om 10 uur en drie uur, die middag.
Sondagoggend om 7 uur (die stilste, en mooiste tyd), 10 uur en drie uur.
Kom geniet die uitstappies saam met ons, en voel verfris na goeie dosis van die natuur.
Jeannie du Plessis, Vriend van die Moreletakloof.
jeanniedp@gmail.com
Meeting 13 August
Vriende van die Moreleta Kloof
Dit is tyd dat ons weer lekker saam kuier, en gesels oor die Kloof wat maar swart en vaal lyk op die stadium, maar die Lente is oppad.
Die natuurbewaring mense het hul hande vol gehad met die veldbrande waarvan die laaste twee gestig was, en met groot moeite onder bedwang gebring was,
Min mense besef hoeveel Natuurbewaring en die Stadsraad bydrae tot die mooi Kloof hier in ons midde, waarvan so min mense gebruik maak.
Ons wil hulle graag bedank vir hul bydrae, maar saamhangend kan ons nie verwag dat hulle alles doen en ons doen nie eers die moeite om ons deel te bring deur aan te sluit by die Vriende van die Kloof, en ook om direk betrokke te wees by die onderhoud, en bemarking van hierdie juweel.
Daar sou n Vriende-vergadering gewees het op die 30ste Julie, maar ongelukkig pas die datum nie een van die bestuur nie. Ons het besluit op die 13 de Augustus om 17.30nm, by die Rademeyers Restuarant, en wil u graag uitnooi om dit by te woon.
Laat asseblief weet of u die vergadering sal bywoon.
Friends of Moreleta Kloof
We need to get together, to talk about the Kloof, which is situated right in the middle of Moreleta Park. Have you ever taken a walk in the Kloof, what an unbelievable experience?
We had two serious fires in the last few weeks, started by unknown people, in Rutgers Street.
Nature Conservation and the City Council spend a lot of money and time to keep this Reserve safe and well looked after. They spend hours in the park, to take out all the alien species and do fire-breaks, so that the animals can be safe and well fed. We need to do our part, to be a friend of the Moreleta Kloof and to help them sustain this lovely piece of nature among us.
We did plan to meet on the 30th July, but it did not suit any of the management. Would you like to join us on the 13th August at 17.30, for a meeting at Rademeyers . Please let me know if you will attend.
Friends of Moreleta Kloof/ Vriende van die Moreleta Kloof
E-mail address: info@moreletakloof.co.za
Omgewingsdag
Omgewingsdag vieringe in die Moreleta Kloof: Vanaf 09:00, op die 6 de Junie 2009
Kom geniet die oggend saam met ons in die Moreletakloof, Heliosstraat, Moreletapark. Daar sal van 9 uur af heerlike koffie en beskuit bedien word [geborg deur Spar] terwyl ons in groepe verdeel om saam ons deel te bring, om ons eie gedeelte van Moreletaspruit skoon temaak, so ons gaan bosse toe, trek asseblief ou stapskoene aan. Daar sal ook ‘n Groenmark aangebied word by Rademeyers. Die Vriende van Moreletakloof sal vrywillige donasies aanvaar, wat aangewend sal word om bome aan te koop vir boomplantdag in September. Daar sal inligting verskaf word oor die Kloof en hoe om aan te sluit, as Vriend van die Moreletakloof. [Vir meer inligting besoek die Klip Boma tussen die Kerk en Kapel.]
Ouers en kinders kan saam stap vanaf 09.30, nadat almal in groepe verdeel is saam met ‘n leier [plastiese sakke en handskoene sal voorsien word]. Die skoonmaak sal net tot 11.30 neem, waneer almal met hul sakke vuilgoed terugkom na die beginpunt [Klip Boma]. Daar sal verversings te koop aangebied word en u kan die Groenmark besoek, op die terrien. Die kinders kan ondertussen n “Kunsklas” bywoon waar hulle geleer word hoe om musiekinstrumente uit rommel te maak.Om 12:00 sal daar n prysuitdeling wees, vir die kinders wat deelgeneem het aan die skoonmaak.
Kom geniet die oggend saam die familie in die Moreletakloof, en bring u deel om ons omgewing weer mooi te maak.
Vir meer inligting kontak ons op info@moreletakloof.co.za.
Rain Spiders
Although the Kloof is home to several large species of animal, it is also home to various types of smaller species, including numerous insect, spider and scorpion species. Not even mentioning the abundant bird life!
One of the more abundant spider species that call the Kloof home, are rain spiders – also known as huntsman spiders (Afr: jag spinnekop). They are fairly large spiders with very distinct colouration, especially on their underside. Rain spiders (as they are known in South Africa) take their name from the fact that they are most often found inside our homes before it starts to rain. Forget about the SABC weather report, these guys are hardly ever wrong!
Rain spiders do not spin webs like most other spider species; they are instead active hunters that will pursue prey. The only time they spin “webs” are when building nests. A rain spider nest looks like this – I bet you have seen quite a few of these before and never knew who made it?
Now for all practical reasons, rain spiders are perfectly harmless to us humans. People tend to fear them mainly because of their big size (these guys do get to be very large indeed!) and the fact that they so often wander into our homes. They also put up quite a show when provoked, raising their front legs and exposing their fangs, often running towards and attempting to bite anything brought close to them. Unfortunately, this usually ends in the poor spider simply being killed – either suffering a prolonged death by being sprayed with insecticide not made for anything nearly as large as a rain spider, or by simply being squashed. It is so sad that people in this day and age still do not realise that the rain spider means them no harm and if left alone will most likely find its own way out again, to where it will not be disturbed by lights and people. The most ironic thing is probably killing one of nature’s best pest controllers with the very insecticide that was meant for the rain spider’s natural prey?
If you do happen to find a rain spider in your home, what do you do? Well, easy. Usually just leaving it alone works pretty well and the spider will make its own way out again. If having the spider inside your home bugs you, taking it out is very simple. A large container and a poking instrument of sorts is all you need. Simply place the container in front of the spider and then gently poke its backside with your poking instrument. Now I have to add, these spiders are pretty aggressive, so if you are afraid of spiders rather get someone else to do it! Also, if possible take them out during the day – as they are nocturnal hunters they are almost inactive during the day and it makes taking them out a breeze. At night they tend to run around a bit. Once the spider is in your container (with a lid on preferably), take it out to remote spot in the garden with plenty of plant growth for the spider to hide in and release it. Or even better yet, release it in the Kloof if that would make you feel safer!
Spotting them in the Kloof itself is pretty hard; they are very well camouflaged and usually stay hidden during the day. The easiest way to find them is when they are nesting; the female will always be close to the nest guarding it. Also be on the lookout for outgrown, discarded skins, if there are a few skins in a small area, chances are the spider will be somewhere close by.
For more on rain spiders please see this Wikipedia article – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntsman_spider
The photos in the gallery below were all taken in homes that are next to the Kloof, but these spiders can be found almost anywhere.
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Election Day 2009
On 22 April, South Africans turned up at voting stations across the country in their millions. The voting station that used to be on the corner of Helios and Rubenstein in Moreleta Park, was moved to Rademeyers this year, presenting the Friends of Moreleta Kloof with a golden opportunity to make area residents aware of the Kloof. Rademeyers Restaurant also made a family day out of it, with jumping castles, food and drinks on sale and live entertainment.
It is almost shocking to see how little people know of this beautiful reserve that is right under their noses. People drive past it on their way to work every day without even knowing noticing the zebras standing next to the road.
The FMK, together with Tshwane Nature Conservation and The Green Market put up a stand at the exit of the voting station showcasing the Kloof and sustainable living. A snake show was held to teach kids to not be afraid of snakes and to respect them and the important role they play in nature. All in all the day was a huge success with plenty of interest shown in the Kloof.
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Stem en kom stap dan in die Kloof!
Die stemlokaal vir die Moreletapark gebied is by die Moreletakloof-natuurreservaat. Ons rig n uitnodiging aan alle kiesers van die area:
As u en u gesin na die stemlokaal kom om te stem, trek asseblief julle stapskoene aan en kom stap na die stemmery saam met ons in die mooie reservaat. Ons kan al om die uur uitstappies neem, maar u kan ook self stap op die duidelik aangewysde roetes langs die Moreletaspruit, wat uit n fontein in die gronde van die Wingate-gholfbaan gevoed word.
Daar is verskillende roetes, so bring u kamera saam en stap vir n uur of drie in die kloof.
Bring iets te drinke saam en kry n groot verrassing oor die pragtige natuur wat u hier kan besigtig.
Ons probeer ook om meer lede te werf vir die Vriende van Moreletakloof sodat die kloof as natuurgebied bewaar kan word.
Jeannie du Plessis van Moreletapark
Some new arrivals
Some more new arrivals in the reserve, one baby Ostrich, lots of Blesbuck and some baby Springbuck;
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Our new feathered friends
Recently Moreleta Kloof became a few feathered friends richer with the arrival of a flock of Maccoa ducks (Bloubek Eende).They were donated by Rynhard.
Some photos of the new friends;
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Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve 