zandvlei estuary nature reserve

History – Zandvlei Nature Reserve

These are some photos to remind us of what the 'Wildwood Bird Sanctuary' looked like about 20 years ago.



In 1982 this was the entrance to Wildwood Bird Sanctuary, the gate is on the left of the picture. See the picture below with the new gate.



This is 1983 when the new fence was erected. The view is towards Muizenberg. Note the absence of houses below Boyes Drive. The rusty posts are where the old chain gate spanned the road.



This is Henley Road looking east, on the northern border of the Sanctuary.



This is the new fence and gate into the Sauctuary in 1983. Note the height of the exotic trees. The gate is nearly 3 meters high. The Port Jackson and Rooikrans trees are an average height of 5 meters.



This is a view east towards the Helderberg, The forrest of trees has been removed in the middle of the picture about 1983. The concrete foundation in the foreground still remains today. Note the length of the shadows cast in the winter afternoon sun, indicating the height of the trees.



This is a view down one of the canals behind the 'Central Pan'. Note the absence of fresh water reeds in the water.



This foot bridge lasted into the mid 1980's, before being replaced.



This view is north west, the foot bridge surrounded by reeds picture taken 1985. The foot of Constantiaberg is in the background. Note the dense trees and bush.



This is the Salt Marsh hide built by Clifford during 1999.



In 1999 Clifford had 32 tonnes of gravel and compost beds removed from this area. Susequently the seed stock beneath the gravel sprouted and flourished. Some plants were rescued from Capricorn and relocated to this area which has similar conditions. 



This was one of Cliffords first jobs at Zandvlei Nature Reserve in 1998. The removal and burning of alien/ exotic plants. He then replanted Strandveld vegetation extensively.