Friends of Bracken Nature Reserve

Thea Weyers
physical address2 Reservoir Road, Brackenfell, Cape Town

The main purpose of this organisation is to try and keep residents and interested parties informed about the existing and proposed extension of the Bracken Nature Reserve.

A granite outcrop south-east of the Brackenfell residential area has been identified as an area of great botanical interest. Covering an area no larger than 4 ha, the koppie is bordered by a large quarry and agricultural land. The vegetation on the koppie is classified as coastal renosterveld (a vegetation type with a high priority for conservation) and is rich and unique with a large diversity of succulents, geophytes, orchids, mosses and lichens. Certain species are believed to be endemic to these granite outcrops and therefore extremely rare.

The Brackenfell granite outcrop is significant because it is low lying, relatively undisturbed and occurs within a metropolitan area. A brief vegetation survey has revealed species of great interest and diversity.