1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,400 Speaker 1: Time to step into the garden. And today we welcome 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: Yondella and Caradala, who is a conservationist who is part 3 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: of the nursery team and Happy by Nature And for 4 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 1: those who don't know, Happy by Nature is an indigenous 5 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: nursery and botanical studio a branch at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, 6 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 1: but of course they're older, more established. Branch is in 7 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: perf Neck Road in the gardens and it's a huge 8 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: pleasure to have Yondlla with us today to talk about 9 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: the concept of creating ecological corridors in our gardens. So 10 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 1: haven't listened to what she means by that and some 11 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: of the big issues. And then if you have questions 12 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: around creating them in your own garden, you are very 13 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 1: welcome to send those through on WhatsApp O seven two 14 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: five six seven one five six seven Yondella, wonderful to 15 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: have you joining us by a zoom this afternoon. Welcome 16 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:43,480 Speaker 1: to the show. 17 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:48,480 Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Gibber, and thank you for having 18 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 2: me on this show today. 19 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: It's a huge, huge pleasure. Let's start with the most 20 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 1: obvious question, what is an ecological corridor? What do you 21 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 1: mean by that in the context of people's home gardens. 22 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 2: Thank you so much much So an ecological corridor. These 23 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 2: are the pathways, the highways for our wild animals to 24 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 2: move through. So if you can imagine how we have 25 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:17,959 Speaker 2: developed towns and cities and areas to be these islands, 26 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 2: these desert islands where life cannot exist and thrive. So 27 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 2: things like your sun beds and sugar beds cannot find 28 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 2: food and shelter and do other things within our cities 29 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:35,759 Speaker 2: because there's no nature in these spaces. So when we're 30 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 2: talking about corridors, we're talking about creating intentionally creating infrastructure 31 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 2: that supports these sugar beds, these sun beds within our 32 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 2: cities to move from one area to another. For example, 33 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 2: if they are moving their migrating towards the table Mountain, 34 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 2: they'll be able to be finding sustainable food sources, water sources, 35 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 2: places to hide from predators all along the route. So 36 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 2: that is what I mean by creating corridors. 37 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: Thank you for that. And I know we've heard it 38 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 1: reference before in terms of conversations about chameleons, about bees, 39 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 1: You've mentioned the birds. It's species big and small that 40 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:19,359 Speaker 1: are impacted by the ability. It's basically saying you want 41 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:22,919 Speaker 1: to create enough stepping stones across the concrete to enable 42 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 1: the creature in need of green to be able to 43 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 1: find one to hop to on its next leg, if 44 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:29,959 Speaker 1: you like. But that green obviously has to be a 45 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: specific kind of green as well, Yandella, Sorry, what in 46 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: terms of planning a garden to be this kind of 47 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 1: ecological corridor and be that green stepping stone that the 48 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 1: wildlife needs? Is it all about planting just indigenous species 49 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 1: or are there bigger considerations than that. 50 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 2: That is a very good question, Pippa. So we are 51 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 2: not just planting trees because if you look in the city, 52 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 2: for example, or in Eben areas, most Eben areas there 53 00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:59,920 Speaker 2: are trees. So while are we still complaining why are 54 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 2: birds no thriving? Why are they not butterflies? Where are 55 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 2: the chameleons for example? That is because all the trees 56 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:09,960 Speaker 2: that we are currently planting now tres a hane fashion, 57 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:15,799 Speaker 2: do not have the value that supports these indigenous wildlife. 58 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:18,800 Speaker 2: So it is advisable if you come to the necessary 59 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 2: we will talk you to choosing and planting indigenous species 60 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 2: that will support indigenous life. So there is more to 61 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 2: just There is more to it than just butterflies and birds. 62 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 2: There are other processes as well, So it's all about 63 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 2: creating a holistic and sustainable equalsystem. 64 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 1: Okay, let's go into some of the details. So what 65 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: does that look like If somebody listening to this is 66 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 1: about to redesign a garden or move into a new 67 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 1: home where they get to start from a black slate, 68 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: what should they be looking at doing specifically? Are there 69 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 1: particular sort of categories you want to mention of the 70 00:03:57,560 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 1: kinds of things that you can provide over to you 71 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 1: to tell us in a little bit more detail. 72 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 2: When we designed these gardens, people, we look at what 73 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 2: was there before, What existed in this area before development happened, 74 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 2: before this huge infrastructure, before the roads, before all these 75 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 2: tall buildings. What existed in this area before? Where their 76 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 2: beds were, their butterflies, Which type of plants were here 77 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 2: that supported this life that has now gone extinct that 78 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 2: we're trying to attract back, that trying to bring back 79 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:33,359 Speaker 2: into the environment what was there and then we build 80 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 2: from there. So, for example, I like to make an 81 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:40,480 Speaker 2: example about birds. If there were sunbds, what do sunbirds eat? 82 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 2: They eat nectar, They love flowering plants that produce sweet nectar, 83 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 2: and then we try to build those back into the ecosystem. 84 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 2: Are they grab eating beds gone? And then we try 85 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 2: to bring plants that we will sustain grabs. Are they 86 00:04:56,160 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 2: seed eating beds gone? Then we try to incorporate plants 87 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 2: that produce these seeds that are lowed by these birds 88 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,039 Speaker 2: and so on. So we're trying to build back what 89 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 2: was lost in order to bring back the entire ecosystem, 90 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 2: the entire function, the entire infrastructure. 91 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 1: We're talking there about the things we are introducing and 92 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 1: putting in. Is there anything we should be looking to 93 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 1: take out that acts as kind of a blockage that 94 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: that that that detracts from the vision of the ecological corridor? 95 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 2: Yes? Yes, and I love that Christian paper. So we 96 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 2: are trying to take out all the invasive species. We're 97 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 2: trying to take out all the exotic species, especially because 98 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:42,840 Speaker 2: sometimes people think the danger is in the invasive ones only. 99 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:46,159 Speaker 2: So as long as it's not been declared invasive, it's okay. 100 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 2: But the truth is, if it's not from here, even 101 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 2: if it's it's it's not declared invasive, it's exotic. It 102 00:05:55,960 --> 00:06:00,279 Speaker 2: is still not giving value to the environment. It's it 103 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 2: still doesn't have It doesn't provide this super market value 104 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 2: to their heads and their Butteryes, so't the butterflies don't 105 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 2: come to shop for food, or to look for shelter, 106 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 2: or to don't see it, don't recognize it as a 107 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:19,920 Speaker 2: place to keep their babies, like their eggs and things 108 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:23,160 Speaker 2: like that, So it doesn't provide value for their environment 109 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:24,040 Speaker 2: and the ecosystem. 110 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 1: Okay, thanks, that makes a lot of sense. I mean, 111 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 1: you're looking at the invasive species as the sort of 112 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 1: first do no harm, that those are actively harmful to 113 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 1: the environment. But I take your point. If an exotic, 114 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:36,720 Speaker 1: even if it's not an invasive exotic, if it's sitting 115 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 1: there not contributing to the environment, then rather replace it 116 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 1: with something that will contribute and offer that food source 117 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 1: or that shelter, et cetera for a creature. All right, 118 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 1: but we've got lots of listener comments and questions coming 119 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:51,159 Speaker 1: in on our WhatsApp line. I just want to repeat 120 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:53,919 Speaker 1: for anybody who's come in midway to this conversation that 121 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 1: our guest is Jon Della and Cardala, who is a 122 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: conservationist with Happy by Nature. You may know them from 123 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 1: the original branch in Gardens, but also more recently their 124 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:06,280 Speaker 1: branch at Kostabosh Botanical Gardens. And there is something significant 125 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 1: happening next week that will tell you about at the 126 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: end of the interview that might prompt you to go 127 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 1: and pay them a visit. For now, though, Mary writing 128 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 1: and to say that my existing garden is mostly lawn 129 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 1: and a few roses. Would that make it an ecological 130 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,000 Speaker 1: corridor or one of the sort of dead end islands 131 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:24,679 Speaker 1: you have been describing. And if it is the latter, 132 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: what can she do to fix it without losing the 133 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: roses that she loves. 134 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 2: Oh, so this is a great point to start a 135 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 2: willing a willing a willing gardener who is intentionally los 136 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 2: what ones. So in a case like that, we usually 137 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 2: go for alternatives. So if you want a loan in 138 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 2: your space, you don't want to lose your lawn. We 139 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 2: can always try to say, okay, let's reduce the lawn 140 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 2: or let's replace the lawn and see what indigenous alternatives 141 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 2: do we have. Is the lawn functional for example, if 142 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 2: you have dogs, if you have pets, is a functioning 143 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 2: as in outdoor space for pets, then we keep a 144 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 2: portion of it for that, but we replace some of 145 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 2: it with something that is going to be valuable for 146 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:14,240 Speaker 2: the rest of the ecosystem, and for your roses. We 147 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 2: do that as well. Let's see is your value with 148 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 2: the roses the flowers? Is it of sentimental values? Do 149 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 2: you need an entire square metal of it? Can we 150 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:28,560 Speaker 2: reduce it to a sizable portion so that we use 151 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 2: some of the space. Because another thing is, as much 152 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 2: as the plants that are taken invasive are not adding 153 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 2: ecological value, some of them have sentimental value. We can't 154 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 2: run away from that. Your uncle from England gave it 155 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 2: to you, your aunt gave it to you when you 156 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 2: are getting middle, so you want to keep a piece 157 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:50,680 Speaker 2: of that. So we can't do our way with it 158 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:54,960 Speaker 2: all at once. But let's compromise. Let's make a compromise. 159 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 2: Let's meet in the middle where we say our garden, 160 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 2: as much as it plays a sentimental vai you, it 161 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 2: also plays a big deal of value when it comes 162 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:07,560 Speaker 2: to sustaining the environment. So that is how I would 163 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 2: approach that scenario. 164 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:13,199 Speaker 1: Okay, Mary, thank you so much for your WhatsApp. Okay, 165 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 1: quite a few people commenting on the role of predators 166 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:21,319 Speaker 1: in these spaces car flagging cats, penny flagging squirrels as 167 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:25,319 Speaker 1: being destructive to the other creatures that move through these spaces. 168 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:27,120 Speaker 1: I don't know if you have a view or any 169 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 1: comment you'd like to make about what we do to 170 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:33,359 Speaker 1: manage that issue, because you're talking here, yondella about creating 171 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: the spaces that invite the wildlife in and give them 172 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 1: shelter and give them food, etc. But then if we're 173 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 1: also simultaneously welcoming their predators into those spaces, are we 174 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 1: shooting ourselves in the foot. 175 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 2: In our spaces? Yes, unfortunately that's the downside. But are 176 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:56,280 Speaker 2: we willing to make space for nature to do its thing? 177 00:09:56,800 --> 00:10:00,840 Speaker 2: So in cases things like squirrels and and other pests 178 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:03,840 Speaker 2: that we don't want, we try to eliminate. We can't 179 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 2: kill them because that is inhumane and we're going to 180 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 2: get arrested eventually, like the SPCA, but we try to 181 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 2: make a compromise to eliminate. Another thing about the e 182 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 2: college is that the things that we don't want have 183 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:22,400 Speaker 2: a role in the ecosystem. As much as they seem 184 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:26,439 Speaker 2: as pes d to us. When we start to understand 185 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 2: their role, what is their role, and then we will 186 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:34,439 Speaker 2: be able to maneuver and make that compromise and meet 187 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:38,839 Speaker 2: the environment and the nature in the middle. Yes of it. 188 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: Okay, two very practical and important questions coming through on 189 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 1: the WhatsApp line, which I'd like to put with you 190 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 1: to you. Firstly, Carlo makes an interesting point. She says, 191 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:52,679 Speaker 1: my garden already borders a green belt. Does that automatically 192 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 1: make me part of a nature corridor or do I 193 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 1: still need to think about planting specifically with this goal 194 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:00,560 Speaker 1: in mind. 195 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:04,319 Speaker 2: Oh, that is a very good question and a very 196 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:07,440 Speaker 2: way to go about it. So a green belt is 197 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 2: like when we are in cities are made out of concrete, 198 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 2: So a green belt is a great way to break 199 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 2: the concrete and to generate, for example, equaling effect within 200 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 2: the concrete city. So what we're doing now is to 201 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:28,679 Speaker 2: go a step lower and to say are those green 202 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:35,199 Speaker 2: belts sustainable for the ecosystem? Are they e ecological? Or 203 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 2: are we just planting plants for the sake of creating 204 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 2: green spaces. So what we're saying now is, look at 205 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 2: look at your garden, look at your grim space. Is 206 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 2: it a corridor? Are the butterflies? Are the dead? Are 207 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:50,240 Speaker 2: the grabs? Are there? All these things that exist on 208 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:53,560 Speaker 2: the table mountain in nature in its purest form? Do 209 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:57,080 Speaker 2: those things exist in your garden? Are your plants that 210 00:11:57,160 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 2: you planted in your garden endemic to the way sincap indigenous? 211 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:06,080 Speaker 2: Are they from elsewhere that is outside of South Africa 212 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:10,680 Speaker 2: or outside of this vegetation time. So now we're diving 213 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 2: in deeper. I'm happy that people are happy to create 214 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:18,680 Speaker 2: these green spaces. They are catching on. They understand the 215 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 2: importance of developing green infrastructure. But we want to make 216 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 2: the grain infrastructure more greiner, more functional. I'm happy with that. 217 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 2: So yes, you can come to the necessary Happy by 218 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 2: Nature to say, oh, okay, this is my guardian. These 219 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 2: are the species that I have in my guardian, or 220 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 2: just take a picture. If you don't know there's specific 221 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:39,920 Speaker 2: species that you have, take a picture this is what 222 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:43,240 Speaker 2: I have. And then we assess the value of your garden, 223 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 2: see what you can put to make it more friendlier 224 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 2: and yes. 225 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 1: Okay, Well, while we're talking about coming to Happy by Nature, 226 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:52,560 Speaker 1: I just want to give a mention to the fact 227 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 1: that next week is actually National Gardens Week and then 228 00:12:56,800 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 1: Sandby is giving free access to all South Africa and 229 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 1: residents to all of their national Botanical and zoological gardens, 230 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: including Kirstenbosch. So if you have been staying away because 231 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 1: you've found the new entrance fees too high, this is 232 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 1: an opportunity to go in for free. And of course 233 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:15,080 Speaker 1: while you are visiting, please go and visit Happy by 234 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:17,679 Speaker 1: Nature Nursery because yond Della, you guys are actually not 235 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:20,320 Speaker 1: only offering a discount on indigenous plants next week, but 236 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 1: you're also hosting I believe a number of talks on 237 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:25,680 Speaker 1: Indigenous plants and it's a good opportunity for people to 238 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:28,000 Speaker 1: come in and engage with your team and get this 239 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 1: kind of advice. 240 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 2: That is true. We love we're cropping our community so 241 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:37,680 Speaker 2: that they're also upskilled and knowledgeable about the environment and 242 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:40,960 Speaker 2: the things that they put into environment, like your plants. 243 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:44,440 Speaker 2: So next week is going to be a very busy 244 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:46,760 Speaker 2: work for us and we will come everyone to come 245 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 2: and ask those questions, buy those plans and get your 246 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 2: gardening going. 247 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 1: Definitely Okay, So a five percent discount on indigenous plants 248 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 1: from the ninth to the thirteenth of Marching, and then 249 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 1: those free talks on indigenou plants short but important Monday, Wednesday, 250 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 1: Thursday and Friday, and they're happening at eleven am and 251 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 1: two pm. If you'd like to take advantage of enjoying 252 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 1: a day with free access to Kirsten Bosh, make a 253 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:13,680 Speaker 1: day of it, but go and also make sure that 254 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 1: you swing by the nursery. Now we've got a couple 255 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:17,840 Speaker 1: of minutes left, so we can squeeze in a few 256 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 1: more listener questions, and I love this one from Andre. 257 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 1: Andre lives in a very small townhouse complex. He says, 258 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 1: so I have a tiny garden. Is it even worth 259 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 1: trying to be part of an ecological corridor? Or is 260 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:32,040 Speaker 1: it only really useful on bigger properties? Is his question? 261 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 2: Please say that again? 262 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: Miss that no problem. Andre, who's written in, lives in 263 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:41,280 Speaker 1: a townhouse complex and says he's got a really, really 264 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 1: tiny garden. He's wondering whether even a small garden can 265 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 1: can be created as an ecological corridor or does this 266 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: advice raally only apply to bigger properties. 267 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 2: Oh, small gardens are actually impactful because imagine you are 268 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 2: in a complex, and you you are in Complex one, 269 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 2: and you all have gardens, small gardens in your balconies, 270 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 2: and then the next complex in the neighborhood has got 271 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 2: its own similar system going on. Now. Imagine a small 272 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:18,360 Speaker 2: butterfly that can only fly a few tens of meat 273 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 2: as at a time before it dress. It can move 274 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 2: from one balcony to the next and rest and get 275 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 2: food and replenish. So it is very important. It is 276 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 2: of great value to the effect that we're trying to create. 277 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 2: It's not just the size of your garden, but it 278 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 2: is the impact that your garden has got. 279 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 1: Okay, it's yes, everybody helps, is the bottom line, Andrea, 280 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 1: please do please do consider it and plants accordingly. I 281 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 1: think we can squeeze in One last comment from Susan, 282 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 1: who says she is methodical about raking up all the 283 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 1: leaves in her garden, and I think she heard you 284 00:15:55,880 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 1: make reference to creating spaces for grubs to survive. She's asking, 285 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 1: should I be leaving the leaves for the grubs and 286 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: creepy crawleys to find shelter under because she currently gets 287 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 1: them away from the garden once they've been raked up. 288 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 2: That is a good way to go about it, if 289 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 2: you think about it, because those grabs provide food resource 290 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 2: for another species in the food pyramid, and that is 291 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 2: what we're trying to maintain. An intect food pyramid or 292 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 2: food web, if you like, because if a species come 293 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:32,920 Speaker 2: to your guardian, what are they going to find? Are 294 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 2: they going to find it a desert? Are they going 295 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 2: to stay a day or two? Because there's food, there's grabs. 296 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 2: So by living that pile there, it's not only living grabs, 297 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 2: but a place to hide for little frogs that are 298 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 2: trying to make their way to the other side of 299 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:52,360 Speaker 2: the town. So when they get to your garden in 300 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 2: the heat of the day, they will definitely hide under 301 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 2: that dravel until it cools down. So there is a 302 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:01,680 Speaker 2: lot that you by keeping that that pile, there's a 303 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 2: lot that you're giving back to the environment. 304 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:07,160 Speaker 1: Great, I'm so glad you asked the question, Susan. Thank 305 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:10,359 Speaker 1: you so much. We must wrap the yondella fantastic advice. 306 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for joining us and being so 307 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: absolutely clear in the advice you've shared on the practical 308 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:17,679 Speaker 1: steps we can take in our own home gardens to 309 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 1: become a force for good in terms of the creation 310 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 1: of ecological corridors. We really appreciate your time this afternoon, 311 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 1: and I hope you'll get lots of Cape Talk listeners 312 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:28,400 Speaker 1: coming to you for more advice during Gardens week next 313 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:31,879 Speaker 1: week they'll find if you find them at Kirstenbosch Gardens 314 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:34,160 Speaker 1: for the Happy by Nature Nursery. You can also find 315 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 1: their branch in Cliff next street in the gardens and 316 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:40,320 Speaker 1: you've been listening there to their conservationist Jon Della and Caradalla. 317 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:42,280 Speaker 1: Really lovely to have you with us this afternoon. All 318 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 1: the best to you. 319 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:45,920 Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Pepper. And to add on that 320 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:49,720 Speaker 2: to our listeners, the necessary is free to enter every day, 321 00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 2: so not just their free entry week. Yeah, it's free 322 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:54,400 Speaker 2: to enter every day. 323 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 1: Yes, I'm so glad you reminded us of that. Thank you. 324 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 1: So you don't have to pay the garden entrance fee 325 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:01,159 Speaker 1: to get into the kersonal Bosh of the nursery, but 326 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 1: please do take advantage of the free entry next week 327 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:05,480 Speaker 1: to spend the day in the garden and then of 328 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 1: course go and shop at the nursery on your way out.