Botanical garden now gives guided tours

GEORGE NEWS - The first of a series of training sessions for tour guides began last week at the Garden Route Botanical Garden (GRBG). The aim is to give the public informed tours of this public amenity which is now 20 years old and has many historic points of interest.

During the first session GRBG manager Finn Rautenbach, a trained botanist, gave an introduction. The garden's layout is informal but there are themed beds where plants like restios, proteas and aloes are grouped together.

One of the outstanding features is the medicine mound featuring indigenous plants with healing properties, which will be of great interest to visitors.

Did you know?
Georgians may not always be aware that the garden was developed by volunteers, with their own funding. It includes a mushroom meander, a concert in the park venue; and a bird hide looking out on a wetland environment.

A dam linked to a water furrow was established in 1812, shortly after George was founded. Volunteers restored the sluice gates and built bridges which enable access to all the corners of the garden.

The garden is affiliated with Sanbi (South African National Biodiversity Institute) and is now managed and run by paid employees and volunteers, all of who are passionate about preserving and showcasing the fauna and flora of the region.

A bird hide overlooking a wetland is one of the many attractions of the Garden Route Botanical Garden. Manager Finn Rautenbach (right) chats to Colin Ralston, an enthusiast who has contributed through his recording of 10 species of frogs, many of the dragonflies and 143 bird species in the garden.

The garden is increasingly being used to facilitate environmental education and awareness regarding the importance of preservation of indigenous plants. The Garden Route Environmental Education Centre is currently being used by home-schooling groups, and also facilitates environmental curricula for all schools in the Garden Route surroundings.

Funding
In 1998 the GRBG was established as a non-profit entity and a landscape architect drew up an official plan. The GRBGT is a trust-driven NPO depending largely on sustained funding. Companies are invited to sponsor the development of new beds and will be given public acknowledgement through billboards.

Examples of theme beds are: succulent collections; fynbos displays; Afromontane forest beds and permaculture gardens.

To find out more about sponsorship or conducted tours, e-mail Finn Rautenbach at Manager@botanicalgarden.org.za.

For more information, phone 044 874 1558.

From the medicinal mound in the botanical garden, you have a sweeping view of the Outeniqua mountains. The garden is affiliated with Sanbi and is acknowledged as preserving Southern Cape indigenous flora and fauna.