Tshwane kids get up close and personal with unique urban wetland

Abstract

Water Kidz Located just 5 km from the Union Buildings, and flanked by the N4 and N1 highways, the Colbyn Valley wetland, in Pretoria, is a unique asset. On 10 February, children from all over the city got the chance to experience this special urban wetland for themselves. The wetland, which covers an area of about 15 ha, is formed by backflooding of the Hartbeesspruit as it flows through a poort between two quartzitic ridges, along with the contribution of groundwater and subsurface drainage from seeps upstream. This has also created favourable conditions for the accumulation of peat, a rare occurrence in South Africa. Peat forms when low-energy flows and permanent waterlogging enable partiallydecomposed plant material to accumulate. In a special event in celebration of World Wetlands Day, more than 170 children visited the Colbyn Wetland Nature Reserve in Pretoria to learn about wetlands and their role in sustaining our lives and livelihoods.

Categories