The Vrolijkheid Nursery Project is Growing Conservation Through Community
The nursery project at Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve has officially entered its early stages of becoming operational, marking an exciting step towards a collaborative conservation and community initiative. With generous donations of plant material from a nursery in Robertson, we are now able to begin propagating our own indigenous and traditional plants on-site.
The purpose of this project is twofold: to conserve biodiversity and to empower local communities. Together, CapeNature, SANBI Karoo National Garden, community representatives, and our partners are working to create a community garden that will not only safeguard indigenous plants but also provide social, educational, and economic benefits.
Project Goals and Benefits
- Propagation, Growth & Conservation: Cultivating indigenous and traditional plants for culinary, medicinal, and cultural purposes.
- Education & Wellbeing: Establishing a significant portion of the garden for school visits, environmental education programmes, and community learning.
- Sanctuary for Rescued Plants: Providing safe refuge for plants rescued from illegally developed or disturbed areas within the Succulent Karoo biome.
- Community Empowerment: Training and supporting local community members to become partners in maintaining the nursery, selling medicinal plants, and promoting awareness on the wide use of natural resources.
- Economic Opportunities: Hosting monthly market days where plants, produce, and other community goods will be sold, creating sustainable livelihoods linked to biodiversity.
Current Phase: Towards a Functional Garden
The project was originally scheduled to commence in 2021, but unforeseen delays meant progress was slowed. We are now in Phase Three: Functional Garden (Year 3 onwards), which involves:
- Developing a Business Plan and Operational Plan under CapeNature’s Biodiversity Economy Projects framework, in collaboration with SANBI Karoo National Garden.
- Establishing a Project Team/Committee to ensure accountability and progress. This includes:
- Graham Lewis – SEO CapeNature
- Conservation Officer – Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
- Ricardo Riddles – SANBI (with students)
- Community Representatives
- Appointment of a Chairperson/Project Leader to coordinate meetings and track milestones.
- Appointment of a Secretary to record decisions, maintain documentation, and ensure transparent communication.
Looking Ahead
The nursery at Vrolijkheid is more than just a garden – it is a hub for conservation, education, and economic growth. By cultivating and conserving indigenous plants while creating sustainable opportunities for local people, the project will serve as a living example of how biodiversity conservation can be directly linked to community wellbeing.
We look forward to strengthening our partnerships, welcoming further plant donations (particularly from areas impacted by illegal developments), and seeing the nursery flourish into a space that nurtures both nature and community.
Related News
CapeNature urges public not to unnecessarily remove chameleons following Garden Route storms
Members of the public are urged to assist wildlife responsibly following recent severe weather events in the Garden Route, and to avoid the unnecessary removal of chameleons from their natural habitat. Following severe storms experienced in the region over the last two weeks, many trees have lost branches or fallen entirely. As a result, some small animals have been displaced from their natural habitat.
CapeNature hit by widespread flooding, power outages and infrastructure damage
CapeNature is assessing widespread damage across its Protected Areas following several days of severe weather that have affected multiple reserves and surrounding communities through electricity outages, flooding and disrupted road access across the Western Cape. Successive cold fronts brought heavy rainfall, gale-force winds and localised flooding across the Province, resulting in infrastructure damage, blocked routes and disruption to operations.
Western Cape fire season shows record early intensity and significant increase in fire activity
The 2025–2026 summer fire season began with exceptional intensity for CapeNature – official statistics showed a sharp rise in fire ignitions, high temperatures, and a large expanse of burnt areas across the Western Cape. Historically, the fire season is considered to run from 1 October to 31 March. However, activity began as early as September 2025, well before the traditional high-risk period from November onwards.
Wildfires intensify as climate shifts, CapeNature warns in emergency podcast series
CapeNature has released a special series of its acclaimed Green Noise podcast, offering an urgent and deeply human perspective on South Africa’s recent wildfire season. The series has a particular focus on the devastating fires in the Cederberg Wilderness and changing weather patterns. The fire in the Cederberg Wilderness, which ignited on 22 December 2025 along Uitkyk Pass
Western Cape to benefit from CapeNature’s 2026 Greening Initiative
CapeNature is launching a fun and engaging greening competition for schools and communities across the Western Cape. The competition will start on 13 April 2026 to coincide with International Plant Appreciation Day and will run until 15 May 2026. The initiative aims to inspire learners and community members to actively participate in protecting the environment.
A follow up: The potential impacts of Red Swamp crayfish in Western Cape waters
Since first being found in the canal systems of lower Olifants River in 2022 by CapeNature officials, invasive Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) are being found further afield in the Western Cape at an alarming rate. This freshwater species is globally recognised as a seriously damaging invasive species.