Page 12 - Fourways Gardens August Issue 2023

Estate News

UPGRADING OUR NATURE RESERVE

he Nature Reserve in Fourways
Gardens is a beautiful wild area
that has, unfortunately, suffered
Tneglect over the years. Being the
property of City Parks but within the estate,
it was always a situation of both parties not
allocating enough resources to improve
the area to its full glory. Thankfully, this all
changed this year.

Phillip Mkhombo, North Conservation
Specialist with Johannesburg City Parks
and Zoo, Protected Areas Management
and Environmental Enforcement Unit, has
been involved in a release programme of
our Blue Cranes in the Nature Reserve since
2018. He has given a lot of attention to the
birds and arranged for annual clean-ups
of the area. Over the subsequent years,
with the assistance of Percy Rathogwa,
North Conservation Ranger and Masilo
Mpolobosho, Conservation Worker, two
Wattled Cranes and a Crown Crane, who are
all rescued birds that cannot be returned
to the wild, were rehomed in the Nature
Reserve.
With the appointment of Rudy de Vente
as Chief Operations Officer at Fourways
Gardens Estate, dialogue started between
all parties and a plan was hatched for a
combined collaboration to optimise the
area for the benefit of the bird and animal
life in this sanctuary. Sean, Percy, Charlene and Rudy

Fourways Gardens • 10 • August 2023