Area Conserved: 8 ha Wine District: Franschoek Owner / Contact Person: Alaistair Woods Phone: (021) 876 2044 Website: www.glenwoodvineyards.co.za

Glenwood is located in the little-known valley of Robertsvlei, seven kilometers from the Huguenot Monument in Franschhoek. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty which is also the natural home of the Blushing Bride protea (Serruria florida – seen in photo above), which is only found in the Franschoek valley. The 45 ha farm was acquired by Alastair Wood in 1984, since which time 29 ha of vineyards have been planted, using only the best available materials and consulting inputs. All viticulture is carried out in accordance with the Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) Scheme. No insecticides are used and the rodent problem was solved by providing outlook poles for the many predator birds to enable them to successfully catch their prey. Small buck, eland, caracal, and leopard are periodical visitors to the farm together with a wide range of small birds. Baboons routinely share the Glenwood crop every year.

In 1999, an additional 13 ha of land was acquired which included 9 ha of mountain land and 1.5 ha of wetland, covered with alien. An intensive programme was undertaken to rid both areas of aliens. Twenty unemployed labourers were hired to cut down trees, after which the mountain land was subjected to controlled burning with the support of forestry and the Stellenbosch Fire Department. Fiona Powrie, a leading member of the Botanical Society and previously of Kirstenbosch, assisted with the selection and replanting of some 15 000 fynbos seedlings most of which have since flourished. Further plantings are planned for the future, together with encouragement of neighbouring farms to undertake similar projects in order to rid the entire Robertsvlei valley of alien vegetation.