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Monday 07:00 - 18:00 Tuesday 07:00 - 18:00 Wednesday 07:00 - 18:00 Thursday 07:00 - 18:00 Friday 07:00 - 18:00 Saturday 07:00 - 18:00 Sunday 07:00 - 18:00

Friends of Van Stadens

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Friends of Van Stadens

An NPO partnering with local community and leaders to protect the biodiversity of the Van Stadens Wildflower Reserve.

19/06/2026

𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿: 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺 🌸

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀: Camphor Tree (Eng), Kanferboom (Afr), Isiduli selindle (isiXhosa)

Currently flowering at the Wildflower Reserve, the Camphor Tree (part of the Daisy family) is a fascinating indigenous species found across South Africa.

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:

🌿 Leaves are covered in fine hairs, giving a soft grey-green look and help to reduce water loss. When crushed, they release a beautiful camphor scent from its natural oils.

🌿 The species is dioecious, meaning the male and female flowers occur on separate plants. Male heads are greenish-white, while females form woolly seed heads adapted for wind dispersal.

🌿 Its dense, termite-resistant wood has been valued for generations and used for furniture, tools and fence posts.

Take a walk through the Reserve this weekend and experience these details for yourself, from scent to structure, nature is waiting to be noticed along every trail.

Entry is free.

Nelson Mandela Bay
Botanical Society of SA

16/06/2026

🌿 𝗔 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 | 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵 𝗣𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗿 🌿

Standing tall at the entrance to the Wildflower Reserve, the Common Marsh Poker (𝘒𝘯𝘪𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘢) is adding a delightful splash of colour.

The Common Marsh is found across Southern Africa, including the Eastern Cape and thrives in wet, marshy environments such as the wetland area at the entrance of the Wildflower Reserve.

It grows up to 1.5 m tall, with striking flower spikes that shift from pinkish-red buds to soft greenish-yellow blooms.

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁:

Belonging to the 𝘈𝘴𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘦 family, (the same family as aloes) there are 17 genera and around 750 species, with 10 genera found in South Africa alone, highlighting just how rich and diverse our local plant families are.

Next time you visit, stop for a moment and enjoy this beautiful natural welcome into the Wildflower Reserve as a glimpse of the rich biodiversity still waiting to be explored.

Entry is free.

Nelson Mandela Bay
Botanical Society of SA

12/06/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘇𝗶𝗮

Walking through the Wildflower Reserve it is often the way the light catches a plant that makes you stop and look a little closer.

In this moment, the Strelitzia reveals its striking form and sculptural beauty, each angle highlighted by the shifting light.

Indigenous to South Africa, Strelitzia is a genus of five perennial plant species from the 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘻𝘪𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘦 family. Featured in this photo is the 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘻𝘪𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘦.

Come visit the Wildflower Reserve and enjoy nature’s beauty.

Entry is free.

Nelson Mandela Bay
Botanical Society of SA

05/06/2026

𝗔 𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺

Among the winter blooms flowering at the Reserve is 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 commonly known as the Sugarbush, Suikerbos (Afrikaans), or isiQuane (isiXhosa).

Its name refers to the sweet nectar found in its flower heads, which attracts a wide range of pollinators, including sunbirds, insects, and beetles.

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:

🌸 Historically, this nectar was collected and boiled into bossiestroop, a sweet syrup used by 19th-century Cape settlers as a traditional remedy for coughs and chest ailments.

🌸 For almost 200 years, the Sugarbush was regarded as South Africa’s unofficial national flower, before the King Protea (𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘢 𝘤𝘺𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴) was officially declared the national flower in 1976. 🇿🇦

Come wander the trails at the Wildflower Reserve and discover what winter has quietly brought into bloom.

Entry is free. 🌿✨

02/06/2026

𝗔𝗹𝗼𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲. 🌿🧡

While many think of spring as the season of flowers, winter at the Wildflower Reserve has its own treasures, including the striking Krantz Aloe (𝘈𝘭𝘰𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴).

This evergreen, multi-branched succulent flowers from late autumn into winter, producing dense clusters of nectar-rich orange to red flowers that attract sunbirds and insects.

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: The Eastern Cape is home to nearly a third of South Africa’s aloe species, and Krantz Aloes have long been used as living fences around cattle kraals, often outlasting the kraals themselves.

Come wander the trails, enjoy the winter colours, and discover the beauty of the Wildflower Reserve at your own pace.

🌿 Entry to the Reserve is free.

29/05/2026

𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗸𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮

Earlier this year, the FOVS Conservation Interns set off on a three day team building and learning journey through Tsitsikamma. 🌿

Over three days, the interns experienced a range of guided eco-tourism activities through Tsitsikamma National Park, took part in Canopy Tree Tours, walked the iconic suspension bridge at Storms River Mouth, and visited Bloukrans Bridge.

Seeing nature through the eyes of a visitor was a powerful shift for many of the interns. It challenged them to think differently about conservation, not only protecting landscapes, but learning how to communicate their value in ways that create connection, meaning, and lasting impact.

These lessons now return with them to the Wildflower Reserve, where they welcome visitors through storytelling, bringing greater depth, confidence and connection to their work.

This is the long-term impact of the CIP Programme: investing in young people, building practical, work-ready skills, and developing future conservation and eco-tourism leaders. 💚

23/05/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘆𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗹𝘆 🌿

Walk slowly through the fynbos and you will begin to notice the small things like the 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘢 𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘶𝘵𝘢.

This evergreen shrublet, part of the 𝘛𝘩𝘺𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘦 (𝘨𝘦𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘦) family, has grown in the sandy soils of the Cape Floristic Region for centuries.

Its fine white-haired leaves catch the light in unexpected ways, while delicate cream-to-yellow tubular flowers release a soft sweet fragrance into the evening air, calling in night pollinators (such as moths) long after most visitors have passed by.

Long before these trails were walked by hikers and visitors, plants within this family were valued by Khoikhoi and San communities, who used the strong fibrous bark to make rope and cordage, another reminder that the fynbos has always been deeply connected to both people and place.

Let this be your invitation to slow down for a little while this weekend. 🌿

Come wander the trails, breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the quiet beauty of the Wildflower Reserve.

Entry is free.

22/05/2026

𝙍𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚… 🚲🌿✨

Wind in your hair, muddy takkies, wide open trails and not a worry in sight.

The Wildflower Reserve is calling all wild-hearted adventurers big and small to come explore, ride, wander and breathe in a little freedom this weekend.

From scenic Green Flag trails to pockets of fynbos magic around every corner, there’s space here to slow down, play hard and reconnect with nature. 💚

Pack the bikes, bring the family and come make some fresh memories with us.

Entry is free. 🌸🌿💫

📸 by

15/05/2026

𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙮𝙣𝙗𝙤𝙨’ 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙖 (𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙖 𝙘𝙮𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙨). 🌸👑

Winter may seem quiet and colourless, but nature tells a very different story.

Across the Wildflower Reserve, these iconic blooms are beginning to unfurl, standing proudly among the winter fynbos.

As South Africa’s national flower, the King Protea is impossible to overlook. Its magnificent flower head can grow up to 30 cm wide, framed by layers of striking bracts in shades ranging from soft blush pink to deep crimson.

But beyond its beauty lies an important role in the ecosystem, attracting pollinators, supporting biodiversity, and forming part of the rich tapestry of life that makes the fynbos biome so extraordinary. 🐝🌿

This winter, come wander the trails of the Wildflower Reserve and experience the magic of the King Protea in its natural habitat.

13/05/2026

🌧️💧𝟮𝟳𝟬𝗺𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟰𝟴 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀.

The recent extreme weather conditions brought an extraordinary amount of rain to the Van Stadens area — transforming the Wildflower Reserve almost overnight.

After enduring a long, harsh summer marked by dry dams and cracked earth, the Reserve is now overflowing with life-giving water once again.

Dams that stood empty for months are now full and even a new body of water has formed naturally within a once-dry wetland bed near Lily Pond.

Nature has an incredible ability to recover, but these dramatic swings between drought and flooding are also reminders of the growing impact of global climate change and extreme weather patterns.

Healthy ecosystems and protected biodiversity play a vital role in helping landscapes endure and recover from extreme weather conditions, making places like the Wildflower Reserve far more than beautiful spaces to explore.

They are living, breathing systems that quietly protect, restore and sustain life around us, reminding us just how important it is to safeguard our natural spaces for future generations to come. 💚

Address

Port Elizabeth

Opening Hours

Monday	07:00 - 18:00
Tuesday	07:00 - 18:00
Wednesday	07:00 - 18:00
Thursday	07:00 - 18:00
Friday	07:00 - 18:00
Saturday	07:00 - 18:00
Sunday	07:00 - 18:00

Website

http://www.fovs.co.za/

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