Bill Barnes Crane Foundation Hike, 2 July
Background information to the Bill Barnes Crane and Oribi Nature Reserve
It is a unique gift to the midlands community, as a model for environmentally sustainable farming practices, but it is also an unused treasure for people with a real interest in and concern for the environment. Our aim is to make the reserve more accessible to nature lovers, whilst ensuring its status as a sanctuary for some of our most threatened species.
The reserve, which is home to breeding pairs of both Wattled and Grey Crowned Cranes and increasingly threatened Oribi, was made possible by the support and generous donation of land by the late Mr Peter Brown (father of Mr Chris Brown), Mr Jon Bates (owner of Fordoun Hotel and Spa) and Mr James Berning
Leader: Alistair Nixon, 17 hikers, Grade 3, 12 kilometres, 4.5 hours. Nottingham Road.
The college is at the entrance to Nottingham Road from the motorway side
Parking in the grounds with a guard
Through the gate and onto farmland.
The route has arrows and is numbered.
The hike is in an area donated by three farms in the area and dedicated to conservation and protection of cranes.
The Drakensberg was crystal clear. From Giants to Champagne.
Irrigated pasture where the buck graze as well.
Reedbuck alarmed by the army of hikers
Giants Castle in the distance
Kamberg mountain "pyramid" peaking up
First crane sighting. We also saw Crowned Cranes.
Crowned Crane. Courtesy eBird
Wattled Crane.
Courtesy of Wikipedia.
The geodesic dome once used for the rehabilitation of the cranes.
The main dam. Picnic spot under the trees.
Two dummy cranes which are very convincing from afar.
Models used in the education centre.
left: Always something to identify.
Right
Lunch break (two hours of hiking) in the grounds of the Crane Foundation Education Centre.
The 100+ metre boardwalk over a wetland. Still wet despite it being winter.
This is area is used for outdoor educational purposes. An entomologists paradise.
The return trip is through the Fordoun Spa and Hotel grounds
