An ecological controlled burn of the Milnerton Racecourse section of the Table Bay Nature Reserve is planned for March 2012 to ensure regeneration of the indigenous vegetation in the area.

The City of Cape Town manages more than 30 nature reserves and natural areas. Some of these reserves require the proliferation of a natural fire regime, without which the unique and irreplaceable indigenous vegetation would not be able to regenerate. The Milnerton Racecourse section is comprised of Cape Flats sand fynbos which must burn, on average, every 12 to 15 years.

The small 3.5 hectare northern block at Milnerton Racecourse will be burned under controlled conditions on either 7, 14, or 28 March 2012. This block lies between Sandown Crescent, The Met, Stable Yard and the Gold Circle Race Track in Royal Ascot.

The burn will be conducted in terms of a permit for controlled burning from the City of Cape Town’s Fire Services and the Air Pollution Control Department. Environmental Resource Management Department staff will ensure that the procedure will be conducted efficiently and safely.

The burning will take place on a suitable weekday and will be completed within the course of one day. Neighbouring residents and land owners will be notified of the exact date of burning by a letter drop in their mailboxes.

For safety reasons, surrounding residents are advised to keep their windows shut while burning takes place. Flammable items such gas canisters should be removed from outside areas and laundry should be taken off washing-lines to prevent odour contamination from smoke. Sprinklers may be used to dampen gardens as a further precautionary measure.

The burn will allow for the regeneration of the fynbos and the removal of the high accumulated plant fuel load (dry combustible materials) in the nature reserve.

Fire renders long dormant fynbos seeds more susceptible to germination by weakening the seed coverings through the effect of the smoke and heat of a fire. The winter rains that would follow will support the establishment of the new plants, and ultimately allow them to set new seed into the environment.

In 2008 and 2010, portions of the larger 15 hectare southern area were very successfully burned and numerous fynbos plant species have since started to emerge.

The City’s vision for the Table Bay Nature Reserve is that it would become an internationally recognisable natural feature in Cape Town. The regeneration of fynbos is crucial to the preservation of a healthy ecosystem with a high diversity of indigenous plant and animal species.

For any queries or objections please contact Air Pollution Control on 021 590 1419.

For further enquiries please contact Koos Retief, Area Manager: Milnerton Area of the Table Bay Nature Reserve on 021 550 1086.

For more information on the City’s nature reserves, visit www.capetown.gov.za/naturereserves.