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ESTATE NEWS

they help the golf course become a pretty Some other initiatives on the Estate: • It is inexpensive and easy to cultivate.
oasis in an urban (artificial) landscape. We have been recycling for more than 20
years on the Estate! Recycling is collected On the negative side:
weekly from homes on the Estate, and also • It is an aggressive plant and has to be
from the Clubhouse. carefully managed to not take over eco
areas.
As mentioned previously, for many
projects we recycle materials we collect in Another very important environmental
the maintenance area. aspect is WATER : dedicated staff has
developed a ‘least wasteful’ watering
On the golf course, the impact of turf grass regime not only for the golf course – but
is minimised through careful management, also the gardens. ONLY the in-field of
while clippings are re-used where possible the golf course is watered during the
in a mulch mixture. A carefully measured, summer season, when and if necessary
managed and balanced, mostly organic, and in winter only the green- and tee-
fertiliser programme and creating our box surrounds. The outfield (mostly the
own nurseries for grass and plants, all area between the pathway and walls
contribute to minimising the impact our of properties and behind greens…) are
development has on the environment. not on the irrigation system and only
Floating island on one of our dams Only legislated and certified pesticides receive rain water. We have an automated
and herbicides with an organic base are irrigation system which is controlled from
Building these floating islands was a slow used. Specialised measuring is done with our Greenkeepers phone and ONLY if he
process, since they were expensive to calibrated equipment before application. measures and perceives it to be necessary
build. Some EC members believed they will irrigate the golf course, or parts
were of no consequence or would have Alternatives for herbicides and pesticides thereof. Usually we only water during the
very little influence. We persevered and are investigated on a continuous basis night when absorption is at its best, but
made our floating islands from recycled before application. For example, in the with algae growth, load-shedding and
materials and planted indigenous aquatic fight against pom-pom and other weeds other factors in mind we sometimes water
in the Game Reserve we have cut off all the
plants on them that are found in our dams. some areas during the day.
flower heads to see if removing the seeds
(flowers) will limit the plants’ growth in the 90% of the irrigation water is from
next season. registered boreholes described in a licence
from the Department of Water Affairs
To keep our environmental footprint as and Sanitation. We are investigating the
small as possible, locally-sourced and possibility to add the newest gardens to
locally-manufactured products are used the borehole system as well. Obviously
where possible. But what about the kikuyu the cost is a factor and it will have to be
we use as the main grass on the golf included in a budget in the near future.
course? Is it not a water-gobbling plant?
Here are a few facts: Little things also count:
People form a large part of the
• It originated from Kenya, where the
environmental planning, be it in golf
Kikuyu tribe lives course maintenance practices or thinking
Floating island ecosystem • It’s a food source for many species such of the users such as golfers and in our case
as birds (seeds and the plant) and wild homeowners walking, jogging or cycling
animals
By doing this, we created new wetland- • It is a grass with stolons (the shoots it on the pathways of the golf course or the
type areas at no extra cost to the Estate sends out) and has rhizomatous, matted hiking trials of the Game Reserve. We have
which I still believe: to accommodate them in a sustainable
roots – which are super-efficient for way.
erosion control
• Add oxygen to our water • Even though it favours moist areas, it
• Improve the quality of the water is drought resistant and bounces back • Clubs such as for fishing, birding and
• Removes excess nutrients from water after the first rain photography
• Prevent algae and weed-grass
(hornwort) growth
• Provide protection and breeding space
for fish and water fowl

We have some gabions and rock available
to anchor the floating islands and hope
that movement of water through the rocks
will mimic rocky streams which act as a
natural oxygenator of water.

INTRA MUROS MARCH 2020 31