Strawberry Hill Farm as a member of the GVB Conservancy

Strawberry Hill Farm forms part of the Grootvadersbosch (GVB) Conservancy . A group of like-minded farmers committed to maintaining healthy natural ecosystems within their farms and farming with their natural surroundings in mind. The conservancy acts as a buffer zone between Cape Nature’s Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve and the surrounding agricultural lands.
The conservancy focuses a lot of effort in the removal of exotic invasive tree species that threaten natural fresh water ecosystems and water security by choking the drainage lines in the landscape and in turn reducing water flow by soaking up water. These invasive tree species also displace local species which negatively impacts the natural ecosystems they invade. The conservancy has prioritized the removal of these invasive trees and has teamed up with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Land-Care to tackle the issue.
The latest project the conservancy has taken on is the GASPP project (Grootvadersbosch Aquatic Species Protection Project). This project, funded by the Table Mountain Fund), is directed at assessing and monitoring stream and river quality and to monitor the population health and distribution range of indigenous and endemic fish species within the conservancy. A number of sites are selected to be monitored annually. These sites are monitored using SASS and fish netting. The SASS method (Stream Assessment Scoring System) is a standard method of stream health evaluation that uses water property readings and invertebrate species abundance and diversity to determine stream health.  
Strawberry Hill Farm is a proud member of the (GVB) Conservancy and our surrounding natural ecosystem is number one on our agenda. Roughly 80% of South Africa’s total land area is dedicated agricultural land which gives farmers the mantle of responsibility to keep our natural ecosystems and their respective ecosystem services healthy. We  are dedicated to holding that mantle high.

Tradouw Redfin. An endemic species of the area caught in an over-night net. The fish are counted and measured before being released back into the river

SASS (Stream Assessment Scoring System) invertebrate sampling

Checking over-night fish sampling nets

Placing over-night fish nets. Finding the right spot and orientation of the nets can make the difference between coming up empty or making great discoveries