GARDEN ROUTE BOTANICAL GARDEN

The Garden Route Botanical Garden (GRBG) team will take part in the Muse Festival, taking place in Great Brak River from 21-23 September 2023. The GRBG Trust is a privately run, Public Benefit Organisation, aimed at the conservation and awareness of locally indigenous plants and their associated ecosystems. GRBG is also a Non-Profit Organisation and relies mainly on donations to boost the growth and improvements made at the Garden. The trust was formed in 1998 and thus the Garden is 25 years old this year! The Garden is a showcase of the incredible biodiversity of the Garden Route District, which is exhibited in the various flower beds, representing the different biomes that are to be found in the Garden Route.

Located at 49 Caledon Street, Campher’s Drift, George, it is situated at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains and is roughly 16 hectares in extent. GRBG is a declared nature reserve and there are many things to see, including two dams in the Garden, one with open water, which was the town’s original storage dam many years ago, and the other has become a healthy wetland ecosystem, which is full of reeds and sedges. Of the 16 hectares, about 6.5 hectares have been rehabilitated into natural forest. Here, The Garden has made an 800-metre-long trail, which has been named the Mushroom Meander Trail. This is a good way in which to explore the forest, with lots of information signage along the trail. This trail is also wheelchair friendly.

The Garden has an indigenous nursery where the public can purchase locally indigenous plants. Most of these plants are propagated at the GRBG’s propagation nursery, which supplies both the retail nursery and the flower beds in the Garden.

There will be a stall as part of the Muse for Men at Searles Village in Great Brak on 22 and 23 September, where indigenous plants will be on sale and you can find out about GRBG membership rates. We will also offer guided birding walks for those who are interested in learning more about the local bird species diversity.

Guided birding walks: Forest Birding 10h00, Waterside Birding 15h00. Meet at GRBG stall, Searles Village. Duration: 1 hour Cost: R50 pp, maximum 8 per walk, so booking essential

For bookings WhatsApp Christiaan at 083 703 9482.