During 2001 Vink van Zyl - a retired engineer known for his work
on the ABSA building in central Cape Town and the (then) new Groote
Schuur Hospital, approached the Parks department with a request for
an area where he could plant a large number of indigenous trees. It
was agreed that the most suitable area for such a project would be
the corner of Jip De Jager and Van Riebeeckshof road, an
undeveloped park area, where road-building material was stored and
levelled.
Vink approached contractors carrying excavated material from
local developments, and negotiated with them that if they were
permitted to dump fill in the area, they should in return loan
machinery for levelling and shaping the area and for digging holes.
He then surveyed the area and set levels for filling, the first
phase of which began in about November 2001 and was completed by
autumn 2002.
He then began planting trees, most of which were obtained from
the Bellville municipal nursery, where he spent many hours choosing
them. A gravity feed water line made from irrigation piping
supplied by the municipality was laid from the dam to the park.
From connections in the line, hose pipes could be used to water the
trees.
While Vink was planting the first stage, filling continued in
the second stage. After planting in the second stage was completed,
he then began filling the final stage, which was the northern
corner next to the river. By now more then 20 000 cubic metres of
soil had been dumped.
Vink also collected indigenous shrubs and plants from various
nurseries, and planted them around the arboretum. Together with the
help of Dr. Christi Kloppers, a vet with a keen interest in nature,
he also collected Renosterveld seed from the area where the
Vineyard Office Estate is now, and planted it to add some
colour.
He was working on beautifying the lower entrance between the
river and pathway when he passed away. The cache is placed to thank
him for his work and to draw attention to it.
The final location is about 700m from Vink's rock at:
South 33
51.DEF East 018 37.JKL
The letters above must be substituted by the numbers found on
the plaques at the foot of trees alongside the gravel track leading
up the hill away from Vink's commemorative rock. There is no need
to go off the track to read the plaques. The clues are not given in
alphabetical order, but a hidden Majik hint below will help you to
find the answers. A strategy to find them without too much
backtracking is essential.
The clues:
B: Vink's Sideroxylen is number SA
xxD
B: The Valley Primary's White ironwood is number SA
xxE
C: A well-known Helen planted the Cape Ash at plaque number
xxFx
B: Kenridge Primary's Vepris Lanceolata is number SA
xxJ
B: Kenridge Primary's Large-Leaved Quarri is number SA
xxK
A: Micha & Luca's Karee-Karoo Tree is number SA
Lxx
Please use stealth and hide the cache well, as this is a high
Muggle area. After finding this cache, searching for Equilibrium will take you on a
circular walk back to the starting point.
FTF Honours to Wayne's
World & Henzz
There is an Egyptian Goose nesting in the centre of the large
tree next to the cache. See if you can spot her and perhaps post a
photo. If you are interested in adopting an orphan tree, please
send me an e-mail and I'll pass on the contact details and relevant
information.