MY ENVIRONMENT

By Dr Anina Lee

Aliens abound on the Hermanus Cliff Path – and I don't mean foreign tourists. There has not been a natural fire for decades, and everyone is a bit afraid of thinking of a controlled burn, with so many private residences right there. The Cliff Path Management Group has 'hacked' aliens manually for years, led by Frank Woodvine, his indomitable employed team and the occasional volunteers.

There are clear benefits to volunteers hacking alien invasive plants on the Hermanus Cliff Path. Apart from the sense of satisfaction of contributing to the maintenance of local biodiversity, you might just get to see the wildlife.

Not so long ago, during the lockdown, when there were fewer people with their dogs walking on the path, Westcliff resident and member of the Cliff Path Management Group, Jan Cilliers, was doing his usual alien clearing when he spotted a gorgeous Cape Genet.

“A genet came to check out what I was doing in his neighbourhood – hacking aliens on the Cliff Path... It seemed quite relaxed about our meeting, and sauntered away after a few minutes, very close past me. This was my first daytime encounter with a genet," he said.

I was reminded of a photograph that appeared in the Hermanus Times some years ago. A Cape Genet had wandered from the Cliff Path into Hermanus town centre and apparently decided to check out a video for the evening from Mr Video in Main Road.

Click below to read more. (The full article can be found on page 18)