RE-ESTABLISHING PROTEAS – TRIAL PROJECT

In the early 1970’s, with the establishment of Aston Bay on the farmland then known as Swan Lake farm,  the land on which the Marina Martinique is now situated, was known as Protea Farm.

During January 2023, the Board of Directors approved the establishing of Fynbos and selective protea species as part of a project to determine the effective and stable future of this vegetation type in a changed environment and on 5 May 2023 the first 20 “Protea” and 20 Fynbos plants were planted.

It took the form of quite an educational event where a specialist on Protea and Leucospermum species ensured the holes ere the correct depth, size and layered correctly in terms of soil preparation.

Plants re-established in the Arthur Fennel park include Protea hybrids, Leucospermum variants, Erica species and forbs typical to this veld type, e.g. Agothosma, Phylica, Metalasia, Selago, Seriphium and Coleonema species.

These common names include Protea, Pincushion, Heath, Buchu, Blombos, Heath phylica, Slangbos, ‘blouaarbossie’ and White confetti bush.

This is a long-term project  where we believe, with constant monitoring and care,  we will be able to finally remove the fence for integration of this special veld type in the park.