Veld Fluister!

The Veld Fluister is a series in which we pause to reflect on the little whispers of connection between our BOT SOC members and the veld. The stories in this series not only remind us of the links between people and plants, but also the power of nature in connecting communities.  

It should also serve as a moment for you to consider your own journey with the veld, because the inspiration you’ve been looking for may lie in the progress you’ve already made.  

In this edition, we hear from Hedwig Slabig, whose story reminds us that conservation is often a long and persistent road – one where the quiet concerns of a few can grow into the determined voice of many. Her experience in the Weskus highlights the strength of community-driven action and the importance of standing together to protect our natural heritage. Through her story, we see how even the smallest whisper can become a ROAR and that when it comes to conservation, every voice matters. 

Hedwig Slabig: When a whisper becomes a roar

Hedwig Slabig is no stranger to the BOT SOC family. A longtime champion of conservation, she recently stepped down as chair of our Weskus (West Coast) branch after 7 years, having steered it through a challenging period before passing the baton to the very capable Nicole Loebenberg.

Nearly 30 years ago, Hedwig left the city behind for a 10-hectare smallholding in the serene Weskus, surrounded by unspoiled fynbos. She soon felt a sense of kinship with local Weskussers, despite her status as an inkommer (someone who is new to the area). As she came to know her community and listened to their stories of the land, she felt a deepening relationship with and pride in her new home.

  From a floral haven to a battle ground

That connection was put to the test just a year later when the farm adjacent to their property, Trekoskraal, went up for sale. The new owner had planned a major development on the property, and what began as whispers of change soon became a battle spanning more than three decades. The community found themselves facing not one, but three separate attempts to develop the land – at one point into a massive 4,000-unit residential development. While few locals at the time had a background in biodiversity conservation or an awareness of botanical importance, this didn’t stop the community from banding together to protect their beloved coastline.

For Hedwig and her fellow Weskus residents, this fight also provided an opportunity to learn. It was during these early battles that she first encountered Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), an essential tool in environmental advocacy. With each new attempt at development, she and her neighbours grew stronger, closer, more informed and more determined.

Trekoskraal, with an 11 km stretch of coastline, is an essential part of a biodiversity corridor linking Saldanha Bay and Jakkalsbaai to the Berg River mouth. While the farm has suffered from misuse and neglect as a result of years of inactivity, other farms along the corridor have been formally conserved.

Uniting the Weskus community once more

Now, once again, the whispers of development are stirring – this time, with a proposal to subdivide the land into four 400-hectare plots. While seemingly innocuous, Hedwig explains that this subdivision poses a real threat. If deemed economically unviable for agriculture, the land could be rezoned and opened to large-scale development, making the community’s fight even more difficult.

Though no longer living on her smallholding, Hedwig is once again uniting with old neighbours to push back against a development that threatens their shared landscape – for the fourth time. She knows the road ahead will not be easy, but she also knows the reward of standing firm.

Her recent visit to the unveiling of BOT SOC’s new conservation signage at the Tinie Versfeld Wildflower Reserve reinforced her belief in the power of community action. The West Coast’s landscape, seemingly quiet and barren for much of the year, bursts into breathtaking colour each spring – a testament to the hidden resilience of nature itself. It is this understanding, this appreciation for open spaces and the feeling of belonging, that fuels their fight.

Hedwig urges BOT SOC members to find their voices, and to stand up for their local patches of undisturbed flora. Because when a whisper is carried by many, it becomes a roar. And when the threat of development inevitably comes, the Weskus community will be ready once more.

What can you do to stand up against unwanted developments? Hedwig suggests taking BOT SOC’s free EIA course as a starting point. This course provides essential guidance on the correct process to follow, to ensure your voice is heard.

The Veld Fluister series is a space to share and celebrate your stories. If you’ve had a meaningful experience in nature or undertaken a project that highlights the beauty of our indigenous plants, we’d love to feature it. Reach out to veldandflora@botanicalsociety.org.za to share your story and inspire others to listen to the whispers of the veld.