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Member of the Wildlife & Environment
Society of South Africa Western Cape Region
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| Milnerton
Racecourse Nature Reserve |
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Location |
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The Milnerton Racecourse Nature
Reserve (MRNR) is situated to the east of
the residential development
known as Royal Ascot in
Milnerton. To the east of the
MCA are the
Gold Circle stables and horse
training facilities, and beyond
this the semi-industrial area of
Montague Gardens. |
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The MRNR is approximately 17.6ha
in size and is divided into two
portions, a northern area and a larger
southern area. The two areas
have always been physically
separated - in the past by the
horse racing track, and today by
residential development.
Historically this now remnant
natural veld would have been
connected to the Rietvlei
wetland complex. |
Aerial photo (2005) showing northern (top right)
and southern (center of pic) conservation areas |
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Biodiversity Value |
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During the 1980’s scientists
first realized that Milnerton
Racecourse was botanically a
very important site. Whereas
much of the fynbos in this
coastal area had disappeared
under developments or as result
of the invasion of alien
vegetation, the fynbos within
the confines of the racecourse
was still relatively untouched. |
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What makes it relatively unique
is that it has an unusual geology
consisting of neutral to
slightly acidic sand on
ferricrete. This results in Cape
Flats Sand Fynbos with elements
of West Coast Strandveld with
exceptionally high diversity
relative to the size of the
conservation area. It is one of
the last natural habitats
situated on ferricretes, this
substrate type is fairly
localised (hence the name
Ysterplaat), but has been
largely built over. |
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There are 232 recorded plant
species in the MRNR; of these 12 have “Red
Data” status including
Cliffortia ericifolia,
Hermannia procumbens ssp.
procumbens, Leucadendron
levisanus, Acrolophia
bolusii and Lampranthus
stenus (largest known
population). |
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There are also two small
wetlands in the area – one just
south of Sandown Crescent in the
southern area and
one adjacent to The Met in the
northern area;
during winter several more small
temporary wetlands develop. All
of this provides a wonderful
habitat for a variety of bird
life, more than 70 species have
been recorded. Thus far at least
10 species of butterflies and
moths have been recorded. There
used to be a small population of
steenbok in the area, but they
seem to have disappeared; there
are a number of grysbok in both northern and
southern areas. |
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Management |
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Because of the botanical
importance of this conservation
area, botanists recommended that
the southern portion still
within the confines of the
racetrack not be opened to the
public. The northern portion is
accessible to the public where
there is a footpath – originally
people were allowed to take dogs
on a leash through this area,
but so many people abused this
privilege and allowed dogs to
run free that dogs are now no
longer allowed there. |
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The MRNR is managed by an
Environmental Management
Committee (EMC) consisting of
representatives from the City,
the Royal Ascot Master Property
Owners Association, Gold Circle,
Cape Bird Club, Friends of Rietvlei and
interested local residents. |
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