Kruin Park Nature Reserve

Friends of Kruinpark

The Friends of Kruin Park was established in 2005 and affiliated to WESSA in 2006. WESSA’s tag line is “Caring for the Earth in your Community” and that is the goal of the Friends group.  WESSA aims to initiate and support high impact environmental and conservation projects to promote participation in caring for the Earth.

The Friends of Kruin Park encourages and supports the connection between supporters or volunteers of the park and the Park itself. By sharing this experience with friends and neighbours, volunteers play a crucial role in caring for this green area in our community. The success of Kruin Park is through the involvement and commitment of the community. Our finances are kept at the MHSI bank account; the security company in our area.

Residents interested in enjoying the reserve and what it offers by way of birding and walking, improving the park and preserving its unique wild flowers, trees and plants are urged to join the Friends of Kruin Park and/or the Kruin Park Friends Committee.

Bank account: Name MHSI
FNB Hatfield Branch (252145)
Account Cheque: 624 204 874 08

ref KP + your name

History

Early in 2005 a small group of Muckleneuk and Lukasrand residents established an organisation we call the ‘Friends of Kruin Park’ and Prof. John Sharp was elected Chairman of the group. When John left Muckleneuk this position was filled by Mark Theron. For a large part of 2016 to 2018 Mark devoted an enormous amount of time, energy and resources to the park. He documented much of the indigenous and native plant species and many of the photographs and plant lists on this website are attributable to Mark and his extraordinary efforts.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed with the City of Tshwane and the Tshwane Branch of The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) including the Friends of Kruin Park in 2005.

The current Chairperson, from 2020 is Titia Tabak.

Join Us

Members are needed for varied and different tasks from participating in work parties, planning projects, clearing and marking paths, labelling trees, maintaining the website, writing newsletters, keeping an eye on the activities in the park, communicating with members, assisting with security, etc.

As a friend you get:

  • occasional e-mails
  • invitations to work parties, walks, events
  • notice from other friends of various bird or animal sightings in the Park
  • invitations to talks and events held by WESSA Friends Groups
  • As a paid up Member (R250 per year) you also get free admission other City of Tshwane Nature Reserves

The holder of the Friends of Kruin Park membership card, are entitles to 1 or more days visit free of charge for each year to each of the reserves of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, ie Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Groenkloof Nature Reserve.

  • Most importantly you get to feel a part of the Kruin Park Community and have the satisfaction of knowing you are supporting and assisting in important work! 

Membership is on two levels:

  1. Anyone who wishes to be a member will be placed on our membership list. Please email the Chair with your name and contact details and you will be placed on the membership list and the WhatsApp / Telegram group. Should you wish to be a second tier members and pay the voluntary fee please also email proof of payment.
  2. A voluntary membership fee of R250.00 per annum is payable into the MHSI bank account

FNB Bank cheque Account, name: MHSI
Branch Code: 252145
Account number: 624 204 874 08
Reference: Kruin Park and your Name

Activities of Friends

Those who wish to be involved and active members can:

  • Hold work parties to clear invasive and alien vegetation, enabling the habitat to be rehabilitated for the native plants and trees, some of which are less common and even rare. This enables them to begin thriving, not merely surviving.
  • Maintain the paths and mark the trails
  • Ensure the fence and gates are maintained
  • Keep an eye on the Park to make sure the rules are respected and watch out for any water leaks and other problems that may arise and report these
  • Arranged walks and talks including environmental education events,  guided walks, bird watching, butterfly, wildflower and other plant identification and other similar activities
  • Organise social functions for the community and organise environmental events. Needless to say, these activities have to be in line with the nature of the park
  • Promote and market the reserve
  • Communicate with members and the local residents by email, faceBook and WhatsApp chat groups
  • Collect membership money and facilitate the membership cards for paid members
  • Maintain the membership information
  • Assist with security, including fence maintenance and gate closures
  • Get involved with specific projects such as seating at a viewing site
  • Maintain a bird list
  • Maintain a list of the native flora
  • Collect and remove litter on a regular basis
  • Where it is within their means the Friends of Kruin Park will erect and maintain signs in the reserve, including plants tags
  • Improve the general appearance of the reserve.
  • Assist with identifying areas that need forest control or clearing etc. There are areas thickly covered with Velvet Rock-Alder (Canthium gilfillanii) and one area where the Soetdoring (Vachellia karroo) could become a problem.  Contact and liaison with anyone who is researching or has knowledge of forest control in a nature reserve.
  • Assist with adding information to the website and maintaining it.