San Lameer Newsflash/Nuusflits Aug / Sept 2017 | Page 5

News from Leitch / Nuus vanaf Leitch
CONTROLLED BURNING
Due to numerous questions from homeowners and guests I have decided to summarize
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the reason that we burn certain areas on the estate in winter.
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The Kwazulu Natal South Coast stretching down into the Eastern Cape (old
Transkei) was actually a grassland biome with only pockets of forested areas.
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The Pondo and Xhosa people used to undertake extensive rotation burning in
winter to keep these grasslands tree free and the grass healthy to feed their large
herds of cattle.
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So on San Lameer, we have earmarked areas that we want to keep as grasslands to
increase the bio-diversity of the estate. Fire is the best way to kill off young wild
banana trees, wild date palms and other unwanted trees and shrubs.
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The fire also burns away ticks, fleas and other pests which infect our wildlife. It
also controls alien invasive plants.
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Fire promotes bio diversity in that a large number of grassland bulbs and forbes
will only appear after a fire has swept through an area.
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The new young grass that sprouts after the burn is very tasty and more nutritious
than when it gets older for our buck.
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The burnt areas form firebreaks for us to control wild fires that might sweep into
the estate as these areas will burn less fiercely as there will be less fuel for the
fire and thus they are areas that we can control the fires easier.
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We burn in a controlled manner from one end of an area to another, allowing
wildlife to move away safely during the burn.
And although the burnt areas look a little bit unsightly for a few months of the year,
look closely into the young grass and take joy in the wonderful little flowers which
appear with the Spring rains.
RECYCLING
On San Lameer, recycling begins at the home. We ask our homeowners and guests to
do one simple step to help us in the recycling process and that is to separate the
recyclable material from the wet food stuffs.
Your tin, plastic, cardboard, glass and paper can all be mixed in one single bag but we
ask that it be dry and free from soiled food. If you have access to a clear plastic bag,
place these items in the clear bag for collection with your normal refuse or use a
normal black bag.
At the recycling works, located opposite the labour gate, our team, will gladly sort the
dry goods into their respective bins for recycling. All homeowners and guests are
always welcome to go drop off any recycling items at the refuse area at any time. The
golden rule being that it is dry material.
BEHEER VAN BRANDE
Weens talle vrae van huiseienaars en gaste het ek besluit om te verduidelik hoekom
ons sekere gebiede op die landgoed in die winter brand.
Ÿ Die Kwazulu Natalse Suidkus wat af na die Oos-Kaap (ou Transkei) strek, was
eintlik 'n grasveldbioom met net kolle van beboste gebiede.
Ÿ Die Pondo- en Xhosa-mense het gedurende die winter omvattende areas gebrand
om hierdie grasvelde boomvry te maak en die gras gesond te hou om hul groot
beeste en vee te voed.
Ÿ So op San Lameer het ons gebiede wat ons as grasveld wil hou, geoormerk om die
biodiversiteit van die landgoed te verhoog. Vuur is die beste manier om jong wilde
piesangbome, wilde dadelpalms en ander ongewenste bome en struike dood te
maak.
Ÿ Die vuur verbrand ook bosluise, vlooie en ander plae wat ons natuurlewe besmet.
Dit beheer ook uitheemse indringerplante.
Ÿ Vuur bevorder bio-diversiteit, aangesien 'n groot aantal graslandbolle en -bome
eers sal verskyn nadat 'n vuur deur 'n gebied is.
Ÿ Die nuwe jong gras wat spruit na die brand, is baie lekker en meer voedsaamd vir
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ons bokke as wanneer dit ouer word.
Die brandgebiede vorm brandstroke vir ons om wilde brande wat dalk binne- in die
landgoed kan inwaai, te beheer, aangesien hierdie areas minder vurigsal brand en
daar minder brandstof vir die vuur sal wees en dus is dit gebiede waar ons die
brande makliker kan beheer.
Ons brand op ‘n beheerde wyse van een kant van ‘n gebied na ‘n ander, sodat die
wildlewe veilig tydens die brand kan wegbeweeg.
En alhoewel die verbrande gebiede vir 'n paar maande van die jaar 'n bietjie onooglik
lyk, kyk noukeurig na die jong gras en verheug jouself in die pragtige blommetjies wat
met die lentereën opkom.
HERWINNING
Op San Lameer begin herwinning by die huis. Ons vra ons huiseienaars en gaste om
eenvoudige stappe te neem om ons te help met die herwinningsproses, en dit is om die
herwinbare materiaal van die nat kosse te skei.
Blik, plastiek, karton, glas en papier kan alles in een enkele sak gemeng word, maar
ons vra dat dit droog en vry van voedsel is. As jy tot 'n deursigtige plastieksak toegang
het, plaas hierdie items in die sak vir insameling met jou gewone vullis of gebruik 'n
normale swart sak.
By die herwinningsafdeling van San Lameer, oorkant die arbeidshek, sal ons span met
graagte, al die droë goedere in onderskeie vullisdromme vir jou sorteer.
Alle huiseienaars en gaste is altyd welkom om enige tyd herwinningsitems by die
vullisgebied af te laai.
Die goue reël is dat dit droë materiaal moet wees.
Ben Roberts
Manager / Bestuurder