The news is official - the Montagu Nature Garden has a new curator.

Sanders Hahndiek has taken over from Johan van Dyk and we wish him and his wife Corrie many enjoyable, satisfying and fruitful years of association with, and involvement in, the Montagu Nature Garden. The committee and members extend a warm welcome to them both.

Sanders was born in Cape Town and worked for the Department of Nature Conservation for nine years. “I had a passion for nature and gardening,” says Sanders. He obtained a diploma in Nature Conservation and Management and was involved in numerous projects such as collecting fynbos material on Table Mountain.

Then, following a different career path, he worked for Eskom and was Senior Control Superintendent at the Cape Town City Council for 13 years. A man of many talents and experience, his philosophy is to pass on the knowledge he gained through study and experience, and, “to inspire others to become involved in conserving our natural heritage.”

Our thanks to Johan van Dyk, who retired at the end of February after 10 plus years of wonderful service to Montagu Nature Garden and the community. We know that he and Annelien will remain active members of the Association and will be joining us for tea on Tuesday mornings.

Tuesday April 6th is the red-letter day on the Nature Garden calendar as it heralds the beginning of the season of Tuesday Tea and Eats. The time remains unchanged: 10am to 11.30am. A reminder too that the Tuesday teas are the main fundraising avenue and we utterly depend on your support! The lady members have again come up trumps by offering to provide eats and serve tea and coffee on these days. For various reasons we are short of a few members, however, so please volunteer or send a friend. Men are just as welcome - it is often said that men make the best cooks!

So let’s hear it from the men.

Date for your diaries: Tuesday 6th April 2010 - Tea at 10am.