Bracken Nature Reserve
By Marianne Kapp
As an example of environmental rehabilitation, the Bracken Nature Reserve is a particularly exciting site. Between 1880 and 1950 it was a granite quarry. After the quarry closed, it became a waste disposal site.
Staff of the Bracken Nature Reserve worked tirelessly to rehabilitate the site. Soil from nearby sites, and indigenous plants were reintroduced and gas extraction pipes installed to allow methane to escape from the buried decomposing waste.
Flora & fauna
Gradually small mammals and reptiles found their way back to this site, as well as birds such as the Sacred Ibis, Black Shouldered Kite and Peregrine Falcon. In 2006 staff discovered a rare protected Mountain Dahlia.
There are more than 160 different indigenous plants of which four are found only in Cape Town and four are threatened with extinction.
Photo opportunities
Be sure to take a camera along to photograph the hundreds of brightly coloured little sunbirds that flutter and flit amongst the plants.
At the top of Bracken Hill is a canon that used to alert local farmers in the 18th century that ships had arrived in Table Bay.
Wheelchair access
The Reserve is at the top of a steep hill. However, visitors using wheelchairs are permitted to drive to the top of the hill and park at the first outbuilding. Please do not abuse this concession by driving further than the first building.
There are wheelchair friendly trails but some of the trails are only accessible to more able wheelchair users.
There is a toilet that is accessible to wheelchairs. Ask the security personnel at the gate to assist you.
Contact
- Name: Bracken Nature Reserve
- Tel: +27 21 982 1323
- Email: tshepo.mabolo@capetown.gov.za
- Web: www.jackdt.googlepages.com or City of Cape Town
- Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7.30am-4pm (weekdays only)
- Entrance fee: none
- Directions: From the city, take the N1 towards Paarl. Take the Old Oak turnoff, turn left into Old Paarl Road, right into Brackenfell Boulevard, left again into Protea Street, then left at the T-junction into Kruis Road, and right into Reservoir Road.