2011 aQuelle Midmar Mile and the 8 Mile Club

Yes, everyone wants to see Ryk Neethling, Charlene Whittstock, Lewis Pugh, all the celebs.... well here is Ryk, he finished first in the mens' event.

But you really want to see this group of people too.... The 8 Mile Club is a group ranging in ages from 16 to well into their fifties, and they swim all eight events (four miles on Saturday and four miles on Sunday) and raise money for charity through sponsors.

This is Chad Gifford. He is 39 and he lost both of his legs after a car accident. This is Chad on the support boat which takes the swimmers across to the start of the next race - looking pretty fresh and relaxed and ready for the start of the 7th race!

The 8 Mile Club looks set to raise around R 1.5 million this year for a wide range of charities.

Hlambanyati Private Game Reserve

More tree-preneurs, now "at home" in Hilton area

This story I did a little while ago, highlights the Wildlands Conservation Trust's new Indigenous Trees for Life Programme, started in the Hilton area where the NGO is based, and where I live. ITFL was started five years ago in northern Zululand, and has spread to over 23 communities in KwaZulu Natal, as well as pilot projects in Gauteng (Vosloorus) and Mpumalanga (Luphisi near Nelspruit)

Click on image below to view story at readable size:

Maryann Shaw (Maryann Rivers-Moore)

Pereskia eradication in Amangwe Forest

Amangwe Forest is near Kwambonambi in Zululand, near Richards Bay, and is a beautiful Indigenous Coastal Lowland Forest (the two dark green lung-like patches in the aerial pic below)

It is part of the unplanted areas owned by Mondi and they manage it to conserve the amazing biodiversity and special type of vegetation that it contains. There are rare and vulnerable species of plants, birds and animals that exist here. Managing the forest involves a large amount of alien invasive plant control, and particularly Pereskia aculeate.

I won't go into detail, but this is a nasty plant that creeps up into the canopies, and teams have to pull it down and put it into piles, spray it with herbacide, AND then burn it. When the leaves drop to the ground they reproduce, so it is no good just chopping the plant down.

The team is mainly made up of women, and they do a tough days work! They come across snakes, bugs and all sorts of creatures doing their job, never mind the back breaking physical work it involves.
I just thought I would post a few pics, as I have neglected blog posting horribly... happily because I am really busy and have some great projects and interesting work on the go, but I need to keep some info flowing here too.

Maryann Shaw

Mobility Magazine article

Mobility magazine cover image of Victoria Mazabuko, aged 16. She bought her bicycle by growing indigenous trees at her home in KwaJobe in northern Zululand. (picture Maryann Shaw)

My story is about the "tree-preneurs", many of them school children, who through the Indigenous Trees for Life Programme are growing indigenous trees and trading them for goods. Many rural school children are "buying" bicycles this way, and no longer have to walk long distances to school each day.

Maryann Shaw

Tree-preneur trades his trees for a bicycle

Spamandla Ndila, aged 14, purchased a bike on Friday 21 August 2009 through the Wildlands Conservation Trust's Indigenous Trees for Life Programme. The programme operates in 23 needy communities across KwaZulu Natal, and children and adults grow indigenous trees that they trade for goods at tree stores. The trees are collected and are then planted in areas identified for reforestation carbon sinks or urban greening projects.

Spamandla is a "tree-preneur" at the Buffelsdraai Indigenous Trees for Life Programme near Durban and has grown 539 saplings. He said he will use his earnings to buy food and things that his mother needs, now that he has his bike. He said he will use the bike to go to school, ride with his friends, and go to the shop for his mother. In this picture he gives his little brother a lift.

Maryann Shaw