Book of the Month September 2010

Nieuwoudtville : Bokkeveld Plateau & Hantam : a guide to the wild flowers of Nieuwoudtville, Calvinia , Botterkloof / Johan Manning & Peter Goldblatt

Foreword : Having visited Nieuwoudtville in September 1996 when the heavy rains had caused the flowering to be truly spectacular, I am really delighted to introduce this guidebook written by real experts on the regional flora.
There are few sights in the world as beautiful as the blooming of the Nanaqualand flora and it must rank high on the world-wide lists of important heritage sites
It is to be highly commended that some farmers in the Nieuwoudtville region are managing their farms to protect and encourage the flora. This is a fine example of sustainability about which we hear so much today. Because of this action by farmers some of the world's rarest and most beautiful flowers are being well protected.
I wish that this well illustrated book had been available for my visit to Niewoudtville, because like so many other visitors, I want to know the identity of the flowers which I saw. I know that tjis field guide will encourage other people to go and see for themselves this remarkable flora. I hope it will encourage all of us to support the efforts of the new South Africa and its people to preserve its unique flora.
I hope it will encourage all of us to support the efforts of the new South Africa and its people to preserve its unique flora.
Professor sir Ghillean Prance, FSR Director Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew