Grootbos Foundation Monthly Update | August 2026

11 September

Foundation

Throughout August, the Grootbos Foundation continued to create opportunities for growth within the community.

From inspiring the next generation of conservationists at school career days to empowering young adults as they step into the workforce, the Foundation continued building meaningful pathways for the future. And with the countdown to September’s Chelsea Flowers in Stanford underway, there’s plenty more to look forward to.

Here are some of the month’s highlights.
 

Inspiring the Next Generation of Conservationists

Inspiring the next generation is an important part of conservation. Early in the month, Grootbos Foundation took that message to Okkie Smuts Primary School in Stanford, where conservationists Mike Fabricius and Carly Vlotman shared their knowledge and passion for the natural world with young learners.

Speaking to Grade 6 and 7 learners about careers in conservation, Mike and Carly highlighted the many opportunities within the local green economy. From research science and nature guiding to reserve management and wildfire fighting, there are countless ways to build a career while protecting our natural environment.

These educational outings plant seeds of possibility early and can help youth recognise opportunities that exist in their own community.

The Important World of Frogs

The Foundation’s Sundowner Sessions have become a wonderful opportunity for the Grootbos community to get together and learn about the natural world from guest speakers.

Looking back at one of our favourite winter sessions, we were joined by Professor Louis du Preez, a zoologist at North-West University and a published expert on Southern Africa’s frogs. The evening gave those attending a fascinating look at these often-overlooked amphibians and their important role in our ecosystems. 

Did you know that of the 138 frog species found in South Africa, 22.9% of them are listed as threatened?

Frogs are both predators and prey, helping to regulate insect populations while providing food for a variety of other species. They are also particularly sensitive to changes in their environment. Because they depend on healthy water sources and suitable habitats, changes in frog populations can provide valuable clues about an ecosystem’s health.

This is especially relevant in the Western Cape, where we are fortunate to have a remarkable diversity of frogs, many of which are endemic to the region and closely linked to fynbos and freshwater habitats.

From frogs and topics related to the fauna and flora of the Cape Floral Kingdom, every session brings a new perspective to the landscape we call home.
 

Opening Doors to the World of Work

The Grootbos Foundation’s Employability Programme grew from a passion for helping young people take their first steps into the workplace. 

This month, 31 young people took part in a Work Readiness Workshop, preparing them for a 10-day Workplace Experience programme with a variety of participating local businesses.

With training, mentorship and ongoing support from the Foundation’s team, participants have been equipped with practical skills and guidance to help them make the most of this opportunity. The trainers will continue to support and monitor their progress as they move towards potential employment.

The Workplace Experience also gives participants their first taste of the working world, and it is an opportunity to build confidence, gain practical experience and open doors to future employment.
 

Earth Rangers Take to the Coast

On 1 August, 20 of the Grootbos Foundation’s Earth Rangers were invited by the Dyer Island Conservation Trust and CapeNature to take part in a Marine Protected Area Day along the Gansbaai coastline.

Joining around 100 other young children, the Earth Rangers spent a wonderful morning collecting litter along the coastline before enjoying lunch together. It was a hands-on opportunity to experience the marine environment while making a positive contribution to the place they call home.
The Earth Rangers programme is a nature-based initiative delivered through the Foundation’s sports coaches, giving young children opportunities to experience nature, build curiosity and develop a deeper appreciation for their natural heritage.

A big thank you to the Dyer Island Conservation Trust and CapeNature for including our Earth Rangers in this special day and allowing them to connect with and care for their coastal environment.

Opening Doors to Employment

For some young people, getting that first taste of a formal workplace can make all the difference. 

Through the Grootbos Foundation’s Employability Programme, participants began their 10-day Workplace Experience, with placements across a variety of local businesses in Gansbaai and Hermanus.

From a clothing boutique and grocery store to a marine tour company, gym and gallery, the young jobseekers are gaining practical experience in a range of working environments. For many, this may be their first opportunity to experience a formal workplace, making the programme an important step towards building confidence and independence.

This shorter workplace pathway is designed to provide faster access to the world of work, with a focus on work readiness and professionalism. 

The Foundation is grateful to the local businesses opening their doors and providing these young people with practical experience and encouragement as they take their first steps into employment.

Giving Fynbos Room to Recover

The fynbos is well on its way to recovery following the recent wildfires, with new growth emerging across the burned landscape. 

But unfortunately, indigenous fynbos species are not the only plants responding after the fire. Many invasive species also have seeds stored in the soil, some for years, which are stimulated to germinate when fire passes through the landscape.

This creates an important window for action. Before they establish themselves and become difficult to control, these invasive plants can quite easily be removed by hand. Grootbos Foundation and other local clearing teams are making the most of this window, steadily working through the landscape.

In the foreground of this photograph, a small patch of oxalis is among the indigenous plants benefiting from this careful work. With the surrounding Port Jackson removed, it has more space to grow without being crowded out.

It is a slow process, but every seedling removed is a small step towards protecting the diversity of the recovering fynbos.

Building Skills Through Play

Grootbos Foundation’s sports coaches are bringing play, movement and learning to Sunshine Nation, an Early Childhood Development centre in Blompark, Gansbaai.

The coaches offer games and gross motor skills activities as part of a collaborative effort to build a fuller programme for the young children attending the centre. Sunshine Nation is still working to secure additional space and funding, making support from volunteers and community partners especially valuable.

For young children, having a safe space where they can play, learn and develop under the care of supportive adults can make an important difference. The Foundation’s coaches use specially designed games and activities to help children develop physically, mentally and emotionally, while also giving them an opportunity to enjoy movement and discover what their bodies can do.

This is a wonderful example of what can happen when local organisations and volunteers work together. 

Countdown to Chelsea Flowers in Stanford 2026

The countdown to Chelsea Flowers in Stanford 2026 has begun. 

Running from 12 - 27 September at the Stanford in Bloom festival, the event brings together an extraordinary programme celebrating spring, fynbos, art, horticulture, food, music and the natural heritage of the Overberg.

At the centre of this year’s celebration is Leon Kluge’s “Life After Fire”, the South African exhibit that won Gold and Best Exhibit in the Great Pavilion at the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The display tells the story of the Cape’s remarkable fire-driven landscapes and the spectacular plants that emerge in the aftermath. It will be recreated in Stanford, bringing this internationally celebrated piece of South African botanical artistry home to the region that inspired it.

Funds raised through the exhibition will be donated to Grootbos Foundation to support ongoing conservation and community projects, helping to turn this celebration of our natural world into meaningful action. 

A Road Trip to Cape Agulhas

The Grootbos Foundation’s Horticulture and Hospitality Skills students recently travelled to Cape Agulhas and the Southernmost Tip of the African continent. 

Everyone loves a good road trip, and this experience offered much more than a day of sightseeing.

For students preparing to work in the eco-tourism and hospitality sectors, these experiences are an important part of learning. Seeing attractions first-hand and experiencing them as a visitor helps them understand what tourists are looking for when they travel through South Africa.

Everyone who went was reminded that sometimes we need to explore our own backyard to appreciate what we have.

As we bid farewell to winter, Grootbos Foundation welcomes spring and looks ahead to more opportunities to make a difference in their community.