The main purpose of this Web Site is to try and keep residents and interested parties informed about the existing and proposed extension of the Bracken Nature Reserve.  As the process is in its infant stage, any help and constructive feedback would be more than welcome and appreciated.  Please feel free to voice your feelings, as this Reserve is being created for YOU

Click on Image Above for larger view of Reserve

Some Background Information Regarding the Area of the Reserve

The focal point of the Bracken Nature Reserve is undoubtedly the hill known as Kanonkop.  This hill was first called Duyvenheuwel and later also known as Kanonberg.  During the period 1759, this hill was used for the placement of a "six-pound caliber" signal canon used for military purposes.

In Julie 1901 het Andries Brink 'n gedeelte van sy plaas grond, suid van die Spoorwegstasie aan George Henry Walton, verkoop.  Walton, 'n boorling van Richmond in Yorkshire, het in 1873 na die Kaap geëmigreer en hy het sy deel van die grond Bracken Fell genoem.  Waarskynlik het die klipkoppie en die welige plantegroei - hoofsaaklik varings - hom so laat besluit, want volgens 'n vry vertaling, sou dit "Varingheuwel" beteken.  Kanonberg het sy naam gekry vanweë die seinkanon wat slegs gebruik is vir militêre doeleindes.  Kanonberg is om 'n tweede rede belankrik.  Voor 1888 was die klipkappers op die kop doening.  Dit was op daardie koppie waar die Mostertmeul van Kaapstad se meulstene uitgehaal is.  In 1903 het die koppie baie gruis berskap vir Kaapstad se systrate.  Die uithaal van gruis is eers in die vyftigerjare gestaak.

When In became evident in 1948 that the Cape Town City Council Quarry would only be operating for a few more years, the possibility of Kanonkop as a nature reserve was discussed by a small group of residents.  A few years later the Civic Association commenced negotiations with the Divisional Council of Stellenbosch to have Kanonkop and all the land of the Cape Town City Council around it, declared a nature reserve for Brackenfell.  It was largely due to the perseverance of A. Pretorius that the proclamation fo the Brackenfell nature reserve on Kanonkop became reality.

Veld & Flora - Dec 1994 - Valuable Koppie in Brackenfell by Aleka Beaumont
A granite outcrop south-east of the Brackenfell residential area on the old SABC shortwave transmitter site has been identified by Ernst van Jaarsveld a leading horticulturist at Kirstenbosch, as an area of great botanical interest.  Covering an area no larger than 4 ha., the koppie is bordered by al large quarry and agricultural land.  The vegetation on the koppie is classified as coastal renosterveld (a vegetation type with a high priority for conservation and is rich and unique with al large diversity of succulents, geophytes, orchids, mosses and lichens.
Granite outcrops or intrusions occur intermittently throughout the renosterveld of the south-western Cape.  They are generally vegetated by specialized xeric (drought-adapted) communities which differ markedly from the surrounding vegetation.  In many instances the vegetation on these rocky outcrops is reminiscent of succulent karoo.  Certain species are believed to be endemic (restricted) to these granite outcrops and therefore extremely rare.  Characteristic bush-clumps around the outcrops are the result of water runoff from the granite.
The Brackenfell granite outcrop is significant because it is low lying, relatively undisturbed and occurs within a metropolitan area.  A brief vegetation survey has revealed species of great interest and diversity.
The south-eastern slop of the koppie is presently owned by Crammix Bricks. who have agreed to protect their portion of the site.  They are also in support of any conservation endeavor of the koppie as a whole.  The remaining portion of the koppie (approximately two thirds of the total area) is in the process of being sold by Sentech, the signal distribution company of the SABC to a property developer.  Extensive communication with the developer has resulted in the koppie being included on the development plans as public open space.  The plans presently await approval by the local authority.
We trust that the Brackenfell granite outcrop will remain an area of botanical value, to be treasured and enjoyed by the local community.

Friends of Bracken Nature Reserve is affiliated to WESSA

Click on Above Image to go to Wessa Website

The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (previously known as the Wildlife Society of Southern Africa) is arguably the country’s oldest and largest independent non-government environmental organisation.