Wolfgat Nature Reserve to host Community Clean-Up Hike

This is an annual event with approximately 100 youths, recruited through community partners in Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain, taking part.

The City of Cape Town's Environmental Resource Management, Sport and Recreation and Solid Waste Departments will join hands to give the youth an environmental learning experience, with waste management as its main focus.

Each participant will be issued with a glove and a refuse bag to do a litter clean-up whilst hiking through the reserve. The hike will start at Swartklip parking area and then move to the Thusong Centre in Tafelsig.

At the centre there will be presentations and demonstrations on how to make products from waste, as well as exhibits by the three departments.

The aim of the hike is to equip the youth with skills and knowledge to make a difference and appreciate their environment. It also aims to strengthen the relationship between the youth of Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha, and the reserve and its community partners.

Wolfgat Nature Reserve is a 248 hectare natural area, south of Mitchells Plain on the False Bay Coast, providing a sanctuary for both plants and animals. Wolfgat is one of the larger nature reserves on the Cape Flats conserving Strandveld. The reserve boasts spectacular lime-stone cliffs, rich marine and sand dune ecosystems and its own mainland breeding colony of Kelp Gulls. Wolfgat also provides the residents of Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha and the whole of the Greater Cape Town with opportunities for a unique environmental experience.

City nature conservation staff hope that this programme will encourage the people living closest to the reserve to become future conservators and become the driving force to improve the quality of life of those communities.

Participating organisations include Cape Flats Nature, Ilitha Lomso (Community Environmental Organisation), Macassar Dunes Co-Management Association and the Mitchells Plain Youth Development Forum, TYLAC and Lifeline/Childline Youth Development.

Media are welcome to join this event and become a communication partner in this important development project.

Date: 26 September 2009
Time: 09:00-14:00
Place: Wolfgat Nature Reserve (starting at Swartklip parking area and will move to Thusong Centre, Tafelsig)
Arrival time at the Thusong Centre is 12:00

Issued by:
Communication Department
City of Cape Town