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How did Fynbos get its name? When the Dutch arrived at the Cape in the mid 17th century they required timber for building. The Cape offered little exploitable forest, although there were a few patches near Kirstenbosch and at Hout Bay. Remnants of these forests can still be seen today. The predominant vegetation had timber too slender or fine for harvesting, and was thus apparently given the name 'fijnbosch'.

We are in the process of updating our website with a new section showcasing the accomodation available in the Cosnervancy. The map with all our new members has also been updated as well as listing what activities are available in the Conservancy.

Elwen van Schouwen welcomed everyone to the meeting, and summed up the past year as A Year of Meetings. Most of these have centred on the development of the hiking trail, which is regarded as a constructive way of generating funds on a sustainable basis for conservation projects....More»

6-7 February 2003 Building bridges between conservancies By Ann Scott

Private conservation initiatives in the Western Cape took a major step forward on 6-7 February 2003 at an historic inter-conservancy gathering in the southern Overberg region...More»

Earthyear Magazine, Vol. 1 (2003), pp 47-51 Walker Bay shows the way By Sean Privett

The Walker Bay Conservancy on the tip of Africa provides an excellent model of how intelligent use of natural assets can provide income through tourism, agriculture and education... More»

Gansbaai Courant 4 October 2002 Begin om te herwin – dit maak sin! Deur Ann Scott, Walker Bay Fynbos Bewarea

Gansbaai se twee grootste skole het weereens hul vernuf die afgelope skoolkwartaal bewys met die produksie van ‘n reeks oulike, oorspronklike items uit herwinbare rommel. Dié gesamentlike projek is deur die Birkenhead Bewarings Forum geloods as ‘n voorsetting van die veldtog om herwinning op Gansbaai op groot skaal te implementeer... More»

Hermanus Times 20 September 2002 Fynbos fire truck at wildflower festival By Geraldine Gardiner, Hermanus Botanical Society

It is big and bright yellow, climbs mountains and drinks 5 000 litres of water at a time.

In fact, Bulbinella, the newly-finished fire truck of the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy will be the most unusual 'botanical' exhibit of the Hermanus Wildflower Festival which opens at the Fernkloof Nature Reserve on Friday 20 September 2002... More»

Did you know that about 30% of our household trash is packaging of items we have paid for?

That means we are throwing our hard earned money onto our dumpsites! Yet most of this packaging can be recycled and made into new products if we are prepared to separate our “rubbish” and take it to a recycling depot – and get paid for every kilo we deliver..... More»

Hermanus Times 22 June 2001 Local ratels studied By Avis MacIntyre

At a recent fundraising event for the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy, Garth Mortimer of Grootbos Private Nature Reserve presented an introduction about honey badgers, their conservation problems and a radio-tracking project to gain more information on this red-data species... More»

Cape Argus 20 February 2001 Bouquet for Gansbaai's floral fields. UK trust recognises work By John Yeld Environment writer

So what does fynbos conservation have to do with brewing, building, shopping, distilling whisky and pop songs? Well, £20 000 for starters!

That's the prize money, about R230 000 in South African currency, presented to Sean Privett, chairman of the recently established Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy in the Gansbaai area near Hermanus, in the latest Whitley Awards in Britain... More»