These Local Businesses Are Offering Products and Services

CALL TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY ISSUE 3 | SEPT 2020 These local businesses are offering products and services

Welcome to the members of our Norscot Koppies Reserve community big thank you to Sarah Martin for the initial Newsletter which went out to the Norscot Slopes Secure Village A(NSSV) during Lockdown. The committee for Norscot Koppies & Kingfi sher Nature Reserve, (NKKNR) will be continuing and expanding this iniative. We joined forces so as to be able to give some feedback to the community about the reserve, events we want to hold, and remind you about Open Days and projects, both in and around the reserve, that we can tackle as a team. the land from any change of usage i.e. any development or Our fi rst project is security as we have had an escalation of residential plans. break-ins from the reserve which aff ected Sandton Heights, Sandton Close, had their security fence breached from The land at the “top” i.e. accessed through the Alexander Kingfi sher road, NSSV had a breach through the fence in the gate is proclaimed as a Nature Reserve and the land at the park in Swallow drive, duvets and a tv screen were found in “bottom”, via the Kingfi sher gate, is proclaimed as a Bird the reserve and intruders were picked up on the Heron close sanctuary. cameras. We have been in negotiation with Goodwin Global with a view to getting cameras placed along the Kingfi sher, The bottom land used to be a farm, Shoebridge Farm and Witkoppen and Alexander roads. The land is owned by when the dwelling was fi nally demolished it left a slight Johannesburg City Parks (JCP) and we are in discussion with raise in the land and was aff ectionally known for years the them re this project and will have good news to report in our Shoebridge Pimple!!! Grass has now successfully covered this October edition. area. To be continued in our next edition… – Sue Glanville, Chairperson, NKKNR – Mary Borkett, vice Chairperson NKKNR

ABOUT THE RESERVE MINING IN THE PARK The Norscot Koppies and Kingﬁ sher Nature Reserve The area was identiﬁ ed as a conservation zone in the early (NKKNR) – our jewel in the middle of a concrete jungle 1970’s by the then Sandton Municipality and Sandton wildlife - was originally owned privately and used for quarrying society. It was agreed by the municipality and the wildlife granite. Much evidence of these works can be seen society (both now defunct) that early 70’s Sandton needed around the entire reserve. After the owner emigrated to more conservation spaces as the area already had a few public Australia, he left the land “to the people of South Africa recreation spaces allocated. With the ever-encroaching sprawl for their enjoyment in perpetuity”. It is therefore owned of urbanization something needed to be done to allocate areas by the government and thus falls under the jurisdiction for purposes of conservation. of the Gauteng Province, ultimately the responsibility of Johannesburg City Parks. The Norscot Koppie and Lonehill koppie were amongst other areas that were put forward as potential conservation spaces. There are 2 Erven (Plot Numbers) which are both now Norscot koppie was allocated as a conservation area in the Proclaimed Protected Open Spaces and this status protects early 1970’s. The Norscot Koppie had by then seen much activity in the vicinity of the reserve and the surrounding complexes. The area is rich in granite with massive granite rocky outcrops/Tors we see today being millions of years old. In the mid 1930’s there were two granite mining companies that operated in the area, historic details linked to the mines, owners and activity is pretty much nonexistent and the info I have gathered is based on many discussions and plenty of research.

The smaller of the 2 mining operations that was active on the Alexander side of the reserve was run and managed by Waterman and Aery, nothing much further is known about this operation. The remnants of the quarrying work are still very visible throughout the reserve today. The quarrying activity left behind what looks like a massive Olympic sized swimming pool chiseled out of 3 sides of a granite bed.

The granite “pool” is in a restricted overgrown exclusion area within the reserve and is not visible to the public. Throughout the reserve there are historic reminders of the quarrying days We have identifi ed the Norscott Koppies Reserve as a soft of the fi rst half of the 1900’s. The 2nd mine from what research entry point for criminals. We have been working closely with tells us was owned by a man called James, details are sketchy the reserve and Joburg City Parks to initiate and implement and diffi cult to confi rm. This operation was carried out in our smart monitoring ( E- Guarding ) and armed response the top part of the reserve and was predominately open cast service to the park. This will have an immediate benefi t not mining using chisels hammers and wedges. only to the reserve but also the Douglasdale community at large. We feel that through the proper implementation of Interestingly there are many of the chisels, wedges, pulley smart surveillance technology and proactive policing we can cables and other affi liated mining artifacts still lying about in secure the reserve and the estates, homes and businesses that the reserve today. Previous Norscot Koppie chairman located surround it. As always we pledge to our customers and the chisels, wedges, a vintage mining cart as well as 2 strips of community is to PROTECT. SERVE. DEFEND. railway track that was dated to around the same time as WW1 and came from the UK. Also located in the reserve at this site ADVERTISING IN THIS COMMUNITY NEWS was the mining headgear constructed from solid wood, the There is a nominal fee which goes towards maintaining the headgear still had the pulley cable attached. reserve (details are available from Sue Glanville) Should you wish to place an advert please contact Sue who will The cart was placed on the rails so that members of the public let you have pricing and specifi cations. Sue Glanville: sue. could have a window into the mining activities of yesteryear. [email protected] Sadly, all was stolen, the headgear was stripped and all that remains today are the massive wooden beams, but those too Follow us on the Web and Facebook: https://www. are slowly being returned to mother nature as they lie rotting norscotkoppies.co.za/ https://www.facebook.com/ in the undergrowth. To be continued in our next edition. groups/220350601362776/

(Information sources: The Heritage Portal and Norscot Manor) Donations to the Reserve are always welcome – Simon Rees member NKKNR Nedbank Epsom Downs, account number 1522 095381, branch code 152205 THE BROWNHEADED KINGFISHER (See picture above) Known for its presence in woodlands, riverine forests, mixed VOLUNTEERS: WE NEED YOU! bushvelds and suburban parks and gardens (that’s us!!) It If you would like to be involved with the Reserve committee feeds on insects and sometimes fi sh. Male has a large pink please contact Sue Glanville and discuss. beak, black back and infl ight bright blue back and rump. Gate sitters are always in demand and involves checking visitors in and out of the reserve and duration is 2 hours on Its call sounds like a descending “Pity for you, Pity for the Open days or only assist once a month whatever suits you” and during the Bird Course run by Monty Brett, Clive your diary. Hopcroft and Geoff Lockwood, they described its call as a judge passing sentence on a prisoner “Pity for you, Pity for The reserve is open on every second and last Sunday of the you – I’m going to chop your head off ” i.e. the brown hood month. was the Black Cap the judge placed on his head when passing sentence! The Reserve is looking amazing - the wildlife seems to have thrived in the interim. Looking forward to seeing you all at SECURITY UPDATE the end of the month. Goodwin Global Security is premium security services provider in Fourways. Having seen a drastic increase in the More details on Facebook https://www.facebook. amount of robberies in the Douglasdale and surrounding com/groups/220350601362776/ and our website www. areas since 2019 of 41.6%!!! We feel if it is time to take a stand!!! norscotkoppies.co.za “ WORK FROM HOME Business Continuity Solutions Providing hosted PBX solutions for businesses, which allows users save on call costs and work from anywhere and remain in contact as if they are at the offi ce.

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Contact Deborah Swanepoel to discuss your requirements. 082 876 2326 | [email protected] I have been trading at the Bryanston Organic Market for 15 The Toy Lady years selling only top-quality wooden toys and handmade Christmas decorations. We are open every Thursday and Saturday from 09.00 until 15.00.

My stock consists of Melissa and Doug – various items and I have a large selection of train sets and accessories. Goki and Little Foot are two of the brands that I import from Germany, specializing in various educational and baby toys. A delightful kiddie’s bench, baby walker and push helicopters are locally made for me. Brain Box games are super fun for the whole family. The Sasol wildlife books for children are excellent for young children getting to know our wildlife.

Once the Christmas season starts, I’ll display my beautiful decorations from Germany and the Czech Republic.

Erica Wolter | The Toy Lady | +27 83 441 3540

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“On a Roll” Fine & Fresh Street Dining. Quality food! Great service! Fair prices! “If you are feeling like a prego roll or peri peri chicken wings, go no further than On a Roll located on the corner of Alexander and Kingﬁ sher roads, opp the Caltex garage”. All our meals are prepared with locally sourced fresh ingredients, featuring “Theo’s famous traditional sauces” Start your day “On a Roll”

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