The Worlds View Conservancy was inaugurated at a meeting of concerned residents of the area on 23 August 2010. A public meeting was held on 26 October 2010 to launch the Conservancy and the process of registration of the Conservancy with the appropriate authorities is now well in hand.
The Worlds View Conservancy covers 1 000ha, or 10 square kilometres, in a roughly triangular shape with its boundaries roughly as follows:
- To the east the Old Howick Road (R103) from just above Ware Lane, Wembley, to Celtis Road, Hilton
- To the west Celtis Road, Hilton, and then the main railway line as far south as Mbubu Road, Boughton
- To the south the southern boundary of the commercial plantations north of Boughton and the KZN Botanical Gardens
The Conservancy includes approximately 120 residences, the old Voortrekker Wagon Route, vestiges of indigenous forest, small pockets of original mist-belt grassland, home of the critically endangered Hilton Daisy (Gerbera Aurantiaca), and large areas of commercial plantation. Within these areas, particularly the indigenous forest and grasslands, are abundant indigenous flora, fauna and avifauna that should be nurtured and maintained untouched for future generations. Most of these areas are however infested with invasive alien plants that threaten the existence of our indigenous trees and vegetation.
The mission and vision of the Conservancy is, amongst other things, to:
- Promote, through sound management principles, the conservation and maintenance of the total environment in the Worlds View area.
- Restore the natural biodiversity of the fauna and flora of the area through the eradication of invasive alien plants.
Already two clean-up parties have been conducted, with many members of the community participating, and over 5 tonnes of illegally dumped rubbish has been removed from the Worlds View view site and picnic area and surrounding areas.
Membership of the Conservancy is open to all members of the public for an annual fee of R100 per annum with children under the age of 18 being free. Anyone interested in joining the Conservancy should contact any of the following:
Read about the Worlds View Conservancy Trails here.