Helderberg 1994-2016 (Urban enrouchment and fragmentation )

One of my teachers in the past said something important to me that "one has to look into the past to learn about how to guide our future". This is a comment that has stayed important to me over the years of studying. That to see a solution to a problem we have to look at where the problem started.

I have lived for twenty-two years of my life in the same town. I was seven days old when I arrived in Cape Town and I have recently ask my parents about how has the community has changed in the past 22 years. 

I remember from a young age the dirt roads and Somerset West was a small little village that was separated to Strand, Gorden bay and Stellenbosch. Every December there was a strawberry festival in the main road of Somerset West where the whole community came to see floats, sing carols, and feast on strawberries and deserts. My Mom and Dad can remember that when we moved down to Somerset West there was still ox waggons and chariots on the main road. Over from where we stayed was Sir Louries past where the cows used to come into the veld by my home.This was my favourite and most exciting thing when the cows got out. Now that whole area has become developed with houses that sometimes cost billions of rands due to the view.

This brings me to the problem I see in the community recently space...Space for nature and humans.

We became protective which is one of our primal instants we protected the water and river, we created Helderberg Nature Reserve. At the moment and past we push out the environment from our gardens like snakes, rats, natives ants relocated people that use to live down the hill from us.Nature gives in allows us to kill the things that protect us.We as humans push but us as conservationists we push back. 

In recent years all is linked up going to Gorden's Bay or even Cape Town isn't far in a vehicle or public transport.The roads are tarred ,the communities evolved with modern technology and we still don't see how we are linked with nature. 

Our actions cause a slight impact individually but together creates drastic changes in the environment and ecosystems inhabiting our communities.My view of all the problems we face on a small community scale to global effects is that if we don't as a community stop pushing all of the nature away and start  pulling because it's our heritage our memories and our legacy. If not we will self-destruct  due to greed and our needs that are hidden wants.

I leave you with this you as the person reading this blog pleases go out switch off your laptop or computer, phone and all the plugs are on that you are not using and  go for a walk in the garden or park even if it is for ten minutes. You have done your earth a favour. You have shown respect and love for nature.You as a human in this busy world have grasped a chance to experience nature before we killed it all.

Helderberg Nature Reserve ( West Peak) 2016
Photo taken by M.Harvett 2016