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It is a chilly Saturday morning on the foothills of the Simonberg Mountains. Autumn is in the air, but it is a beautiful morning with spectacular views over the Cape Winelands with Table Mountain in the distance. The sun gradually rises from behind the Simonsberg.
While the world still rests a group of diligent volunteers are scrambling through the lush fynbos in search of the enemy – alien vegetation.
They are armed with handsaws, secateurs, long-handled shears and more.
The setting is the historic wine farm Delheim Wine Estate. This estate is leading the way in protecting the environment by fighting against harmful invasive alien plants with the help of a group of volunteers called the Delheim Hackers.
Dedicated to preserving The Western Cape’s precious natural resources and biodiversity, they have been very successful in clearing alien vegetation which, in turn, has the re-establishment of the natural fynbos.
Located within the beautiful Cape Floral Kingdom in Stellenbosch, Delheim’s land is home to the endangered Boland Granite Fynbos and more than 125 types of native plants as well as unique wildlife like the Cape Sugarbird.
However, this incredible biodiversity is at risk from invasive alien plants that grow quickly, take over natural habitats and use up a lot of water, which can lead to less water for people and increase the danger of wildfires.
To protect its land, Delheim has been working hard to remove these harmful plants and restore the area to its natural state. This includes getting rid of plants such as Black Wattle and Pine trees, which were cleared especially after a fire in 2016. Delheim has a detailed plan to manage these invasive plants, focusing on important areas such as forests and wetlands to keep the water flowing freely.
The Delheim Hackers, started in August 2020, meet every second Saturday to remove these invasive plants by hand. Their work helps to bring the natural vegetation back and keep the water clean. Delheim also gets help from government programmes that provide funding and tools for these efforts.
Nora Thiel, who co-owns Delheim Wines, says the Delheim Hackers show how much they care about the environment and work together with the community.
“Their work has already made a big difference in restoring the natural landscape.”
You will find the hackers along the slopes of the Simonsberg every two weeks. It is vital that once alien vegetation has been removed, that follow-up work be done on a regular basis to keep these pests at bay.
Delheim is inviting anyone who cares about the environment to join the Delheim Hackers. It’s a chance to make a real impact on preserving South Africa’s natural beauty for future generations. Plus, there’s coffee and muffins for volunteers.
If you’re interested in helping out or want to learn more, you can get in touch with Delheim via email at hospitality@delheim.com.
