MAGICAL MELVILLE KOPPIES

Feeling stressed? Need to unwind? Head to the Melville Koppies and explore Joburg’s beautiful green lung.

Part of the endangered Highveld Grassland biome, Melville Koppies is a protected nature reserve with a mosaic of indigenous forests, 3-billion-year-old rocky ridges and fields of undulating grasslands. Rising high above the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg, the koppies are a haven for hiking, education, research – and of course, de-stressing.

We chatted with Wendy Carstens, the chairman of the Melville Koppies Management Committee, about how she got involved, the behind-the-scenes team and how visitors can best explore this tranquil spot.

I love every corner of the Koppies! Every season has its special treats. Spring has tiny jewel-like flowers dotting the grasslands. Summer is a green bonanza. Autumn is best for enjoying the striking flower heads of the many grass species. In winter, rocks and tree forms predominate. There is also a perennial spruit bubbling through the Koppies.

It was after I took early retirement from teaching that I discovered Melville Koppies. It fills my enjoyment for teaching – I first started by helping with conservation and then just got more and more involved.

We have three full-time salaried conservation workers and one part-time worker with 20 years’ service – they are knowledgeable, committed, hard-working and love Melville Koppies. Tam Scheidegger also helps with conservation.

The volunteer management committee of local residents is elected annually at an AGM. Each member contributes according to his/ her speciality. I have been chairman since 2001. A volunteer guiding team helps every Sunday morning at the open sessions from 8am to 11.30am and with school, university and other booked groups during the week.

Conservation is a never-ending challenge for us as seeds of alien invasive vegetation are blown in or dropped by birds. It’s also tough keeping a volunteer guiding team and training new guides, as well as covering our fixed R22 000 expenses every month. All funds are from volunteer contributions in some form.

On a guided tour, they’ll learn about some of the flora, fauna, Geology, Archaeology and History. The Koppies will be so much more meaningful after a tour. Then on subsequent visits they can do the 5km hiking trail, or just explore the many paths that traverse scenic spots. It is a fun relaxed outing for families. The donation for guided tours and hikes is R80pp and R40 per child which goes towards maintenance of the Koppies.