Bottelary Hills Renosterveld Conservancy
| Name | Bottelary Hills Renosterveld Conservancy (BHRC) |
|---|---|
| Type | Trail Association |
| Website |
| Geo | |
|---|---|
| Address |
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The Bottelary Hills Renosterveld Conservancy (BHC) is a conservation area enclosing the Bottelary Hills, situated approximately 40km East of Cape Town, South Africa.
Private landowners, together with conservation authorities initiated a conservation program which lead to the formation of the BHRC in 1992. The organisation received non-profit status in 2008.
Furthermore BHRC falls within the Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve (http://capewinelandsbiosphere.co.za/) where it serves as a buffer zone to protect and maintain the rich biodiversity of the area. This is achieved by implementing alien plant eradication, fire management and enviromentally sustainable farming practices. The first grape varieties were planted on the slopes of the Bottelary Hills during the early 1700’s. The unique terrior of the area is ideally suited to the production of superior quality wine grapes. Today numerous internationally renowned wine estates lie amongst these hills.
The remaining renosterveld areas make up the core of BHRC and are the focus of conservation efforts.
The Bottelary Hills Conservancy MTB Trails were opened by the Bottelary Hills Renosterveld Conservancy in April 2011 to allow controlled access to the Conservancy via a network of curated and well-marked MTB routes and trails. The trail network traverses 20 private farms in the hills outside Stellenbosch that, collectively, make up the Bottelary Hills Renosterveld Conservancy. Money raised from the sale of Trail Permits goes towards the maintenance and development of the trail network and the conservation of the endangered Renosterveld.
Private landowners, together with conservation authorities initiated a conservation program which lead to the formation of the BHRC in 1992. The organisation received non-profit status in 2008.
Furthermore BHRC falls within the Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve (http://capewinelandsbiosphere.co.za/) where it serves as a buffer zone to protect and maintain the rich biodiversity of the area. This is achieved by implementing alien plant eradication, fire management and enviromentally sustainable farming practices. The first grape varieties were planted on the slopes of the Bottelary Hills during the early 1700’s. The unique terrior of the area is ideally suited to the production of superior quality wine grapes. Today numerous internationally renowned wine estates lie amongst these hills.
The remaining renosterveld areas make up the core of BHRC and are the focus of conservation efforts.
The Bottelary Hills Conservancy MTB Trails were opened by the Bottelary Hills Renosterveld Conservancy in April 2011 to allow controlled access to the Conservancy via a network of curated and well-marked MTB routes and trails. The trail network traverses 20 private farms in the hills outside Stellenbosch that, collectively, make up the Bottelary Hills Renosterveld Conservancy. Money raised from the sale of Trail Permits goes towards the maintenance and development of the trail network and the conservation of the endangered Renosterveld.