The 2010 tree of the year is the well-known Acacia xanthophloea. This spectacular tree with it’s straight, luminous yellow trunk and its feathery, spreading canopy is rightfully one of our most popular indigenous trees. The common name, Fever tree, comes from the early settlers who thought the trees were responsible for the fever they contracted when they were in the vicinity of these trees. In fact, it was malaria that they contracted from the mosquitoes that lived in the swampy areas where the trees are commonly found.. Many bird species and especially weavers, use the Acacia xanthophloea for building their nests as the thorns offer shade underneath the canopy is perfect for smaller plants that require some protection from harsh sunlight.  Whether this magnificent tree is used as a focal point in the landscape or planted in a group or as an avenue, the effect is always absolutely breath-taking. 

​As night falls over the Makgadigadi Pans, large trees stand starkly against the horizon, leafless branches reach for the light. As the sun sinks lower, the sky drains of all colour until just red remains. On the opposite side of the sky, Earth’s shadow is rising, bringing a curtain of indigo and the promise of a clear night. Science and art merge as a myriad of stars burn fiercely overhead, dissolving into infinitude, and our thoughts follow. – Beth Moon
 
Did you know that trees grow faster when high levels of cosmic radiation reach the earth’s surface, and impacts tree growth even more than annual temperature or rainfall?
 

• Tree buds changed shape and size rhythmically, in regular cycles all through winter, directly correlating to the moon and planets.
• The oak for example, appears to change with Mars, the Beech with Saturn and the Birch with Venus.

Curiously overhead power lines disrupted this planetary influence.

Elize Fourie is the project leader of the Rose-ringed Parakeet Project at the University of the Witwatersrand. These birds are listed as a Category 2 Invasive Species in South Africa and the aim of the project is to further investigate the occurrence, distribution, ecology and behaviour of these birds in Gauteng.
 
She has been receiving data on sightings and roosting/breeding locations of these birds from the citizens of Gauteng. Hereby, she has found that these birds may tend to feed, roost or nest in residential estates. Therefore, she is contacting us to find out whether we have sighted these birds at in our estate and also whether these birds feed, nest or roost in Glen Austin.
 
If you have any information on these birds or know of any breeding/roosting sites in your estate or anywhere else, please contact Elize on urbanparakeets@gmail.com. You can also submit any data to the project by following this link: http://goo.gl/forms/OvbdSanz4B. 

Kind regards,
Elize Fourie
The Rose-ringed Parakeet Project
DST-NRF Intern 
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg

You may have  seen  notices  on  street lamp posts  and poles  within  the  Estate  and on  Dale  and Alan Roads.   Please be informed  this is your opportunity  to  comment  on the proposed  Zonkízizwe   development   which   was  first to take place  around  the  Gautrain  side  of  the Old Mutual property,  but has  all of a sudden  been  changed  to the land at the back of  Donovan Road.

This  area  is  a  wetland  and  attempts  have been made before  to  use this land  for the Pan African Parliament  Centre,   which also  they  tried to build   off the highway  to  Pretoria  by the African Development  Bank,  but they  hit  water.   The Pan African Parliament is now run  from Gallagher  Estates.  On  this particular   section  of land there  are two underground fountains  which provide  Glen Austin   with  borehole  water.

The document is at present at the Midrand Library,   but  GARA  has asked  for a hard  copy  to be delivered to them.

Please fill out the form below to register your comments regarding this proposed development.  Should you want to read further documentation, please see the EIA's & Rezoning Applications in the Document Library.