Grootbos Foundation Monthly Update | May 2026

06 June

Foundation

May was a busy and rewarding month for the Grootbos Foundation.

From being part of a winning team on an international floral stage to celebrating victories on local sports fields, the month reflected momentum across multiple areas of impact. At the same time, important scientific work continued to strengthen understanding and conservation in the floral kingdom.

Here are some of the highlights.
 

Medical Research Continues on Grootbos Reserve

The Cape Floral Kingdom’s fynbos continues to attract growing scientific interest for its medicinal potential, with new research increasingly focused on developing new medicines.

Against this backdrop, researchers from Stellenbosch University recently visited Grootbos Reserve as part of ongoing collaborative work on the region’s fynbos biodiversity.

Following earlier studies that identified anti-breast cancer activity in selected indigenous plant extracts, postgraduate researchers are now examining their effects against tuberculosis. The focus includes several Erica species, long used in traditional medicine by Indigenous communities and increasingly recognised for their pharmacological value.

Across the broader Erica genus, more than 60 bioactive compounds have been identified, underscoring its importance as a source for ongoing scientific exploration and drug discovery.

Local Rugby Duo Shines

Boland secured a commanding win on the opening day of the 2026 U20 Women’s Week at the end of April.

Gansbaai’s Aisha Valentine, pictured with Coach Danver, played a key role in a hard-fought 29-22 victory over Border. In a tightly contested, high-tempo match, Boland’s counterattack proved decisive, with Aisha crossing the try line twice and making both her team and her community proud. 

Well done, Aisha!

Rising Hockey Star

Congratulations to Asimanye Jonase, who made the Boland Hockey U/18 IPT B Team!

The photos show Asimanye’s journey over the past six years, from when he first started playing hockey to where he is today as he prepares for this exciting new chapter in his sporting career.
This milestone is the result of dedication over time, built through persistence and a love for the game.

South Africa Shines at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026

South Africa’s Floral Kingdom has once again earned international recognition at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London.

Leon Kluge’s exhibit “Life After Fire” was awarded a Gold Medal for outstanding horticultural excellence and the prestigious title of Best Exhibit in the Great Pavilion for 2026. The display was recognised for its striking storytelling of ecological renewal and powerful environmental message. 

Drawing directly on the ecological richness and fire-driven regeneration patterns of the Cape Floral Kingdom, “Life After Fire” was inspired by landscapes in the Western Cape where a series of wildfires ushered in a superbloom season of fynbos discovery.

Having the honour of being part of the winning team, Grootbos Foundation celebrates this achievement alongside Leon Kluge and the wider South African botanical community, reflecting 23 years of work to conserve and share the Cape Floral Kingdom.

The award-winning “Life After Fire” exhibit will be showcased in Stanford from 12 - 27 September 2026 as part of Stanford in Bloom, bringing Chelsea Flowers back to South African soil.

Meet the Green Futures Hospitality Skills Class of 2026

The weather may be getting colder, but it was all warm smiles from the Green Futures Hospitality Skills Class of 2026, who completed their first full week of training.

• Back row, from left: Robin, Anovuyo, Vatiswa, Yonela, Lona, Onesipho and Robyn
• Front row, from left: Anesipho, Amahle, Gaillyn, Takatso and Lilitha

The programme equips young people with practical skills for careers in the hospitality and tourism industry, and you could feel the excitement and positive energy in the air for what’s to come.

Footsteps for Fynbos at Cape Town Marathon

This year’s Cape Town Marathon, held on 24 May 2026 in near-perfect weather, marked a historic moment as the event took a massive step toward becoming the first Marathon Major on the African continent.

Grootbos Foundation is honoured to be a charity partner of the Cape Town Marathon and is grateful to the 10 athletes who ran in support of the Foundation, raising funds for Footsteps for Fynbos. The campaign supports conservation work and job creation through an ongoing invasive alien plant-clearing project by local teams.

Grootbos was also proud to showcase beautiful proteas at the Cape Town Marathon Expo, supporting local cut-flower growers and harvesters, many of whom were impacted by fire damage during the summer season.

Congratulations to Entrepreneurs 2026

The Foundation’s talented entrepreneurs completed their financial training workshop and are now ready to take on their Greenlight self-assessments

With tools to track their own progress and growth over the next 12 months of mentorship, this is an inspirational step forward in building confident, capable and sustainable local businesses.

Bioblitz Survey

The Foundation’s conservation team recently spent time on the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve assessing the density of invasive plants as part of ongoing biodiversity monitoring.

These Bioblitz surveys help build a clearer understanding of the rich biodiversity found on properties surrounding Grootbos. Arno, Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy’s manager (pictured left), uses invasive plant density assessments to develop management plans that support landowners in controlling invasive species and protecting local ecosystems.

While in the field, the team also discovered Pleurotus overstrandensis, an edible oyster mushroom species found in strandveld habitats. As always, a reminder that wild mushrooms should never be consumed unless identified with absolute certainty, as some species can be toxic.

Did You Know?

The “grumpy” look of rain frogs (genus Breviceps) is not actually an expression or a direct adaptation to their diet. Instead, it comes from their unique body design, shaped for a life spent underground. Their short limbs, rounded bodies, and compact features help them burrow efficiently through sandy soil in the fynbos, where they spend most of their time hidden from view.

Their diet of ants, termites, and other small invertebrates is opportunistic rather than the cause of their facial appearance. That distinctive look is really a side effect of a specialised, soil-dwelling lifestyle rather than a “mood.”

Tiny, secretive, and surprisingly powerful for their size, these frogs quietly play their part in keeping the ecosystem balanced beneath our feet.