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| Area Conserved: |
| 25 ha |
| Wine District: |
| Paarl |
| Owner / Contact Person: |
| Heather Gould |
| Phone: |
| (021) 863 1976 |
| Website: |
| www.avondalewine.co.za |
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Biodiversity highlights: Area conserved – 25ha.
Replanting strategy: 27 indigenous tree species planted back along their riverine corridor.
Indigenous species growing in the area have been identified as excellent cover crops, as they are already adapted to the soil and environment.
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Over the past several years Avondale have been doing an extensive alien clearing, along the stream that runs through the farm. Avondale has developed a replanting strategy for indigenous trees, having planted back some 27 different types of indigenous trees. Since re-establishing the indigenous trees, they have found that the bird life has noticeably increased. Avondale are proud to say that they now have a thriving ecosystem with lots of buck, rabbits, hawks, owls and eagles. They have even gone to the extent of planting tall poles in the vineyards and orchards for the predator birds, so that these birds can naturally control the mice and rat population.
Certain areas have been left for the natural fauna and flora to re-establish themselves. There have been tremendous results - it is truly amazing to see how the natural vegetation starts to re-establish itself. Avondale have identified some 7 indigenous species that naturally occur in the area which they believe could be used in the vineyards as indigenous cover crops. Criteria which cover crop species need to fulfil include hardy, good scent and flowers for attracting natural predators, low water needs, are able to cope with mowing, and preferably some should be nitrogen fixing to get natural nitrogen into the soil. There are many fynbos species that are already adapted to the soil and environment that are hardy and do not need irrigation, so clearly fynbos (the natural vegetation of the Cape region) is a good choice to fill this mandate.
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