Hermanus Flower Festival

Close on 2 500 people attended the Hermanus Botanical Society’s Flower Festival over the Heritage Day long weekend 24-27 September. The fynbos flower display was spectacular and the theme of fynbos creatures was a definite hit. Whale Coast Conservation was proud to be a partner in this Festival celebrating biodiversity.

The Whale Coast Conservation marquee extended the creature theme to include coastal creatures. We took a holistic approach to conservation by highlighting the Cape Whale Coast Hope Spot.

Many visitors were interested in the Hope Spot concept, which focuses attention on marine and coastal areas that have a high level of biodiversity and are worth conserving. Conservation of these spots also benefits people, directly through utilisation of resources and indirectly through tourism. Visitors enjoyed WCC volunteer Sandiso Magaqa’s exhibit of the Cape Whale Coast Hope Spot – one of six in South Africa.
A critical component of conservation is education, especially of young people who are receptive to new ideas and lifestyle habits.

Communications Manager Anina Lee was spotted in front of the spectacular mural promoting WCC’s Youth Environment Programme (YEP) that took pride of place in the marquee.

Citizen science projects featured prominently. These projects encourage people to become involved in the environment – which leads to caring for it – and also provide useful scientific data. WCC intern Denfred Bruintjies and Board member John Cowan took visitors virtual frogging.

The citizen science project monitoring shark eggs cases fascinated young and old visitors. WCC intern Denfred Bruintjies explained.

WCC Board member Dr Pat Miller engaged visitors demonstrating how the structure of all proteas enhances their chances of pollination – in the case of the pincushion, by sugarbirds and sunbirds.

Children’s activities were very popular – especially the interesting and fun Amazing Heritage Challenge on Heritage Day. WCC schools coordinator Shirley Volkwyn (right) is seen with some of the participants.

The Sparkle Kids were amazing marshals.

Children’s art was inspired by the Art Walk.

Overstrand Executive Mayor Nicolette Botha-Guthrie was warmly welcomed to the WCC marquee by Sandiso Magaqa (left) and Denfred Bruintjies (right).
The display of backup energy solutions also attracted much interest.