Kirstenbosch Environmental Education Programme
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Introduction to Kirstenbosch
They explore the diversity of plants in the forest and fynbos sections and visit popular sites such as the Dell, Colonel Bird's Bath, the Cycads, Pearsons Grave, Matthew's Rockery and the Otter and Main Ponds. Younger learners are encouraged to use their senses to explore the variety of plants and animals in the garden.
These guinea fowl are having a sand bath. They are favourites with the children except when they try and steal their lunches.
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Ecology
Plants and animals have interrelationships and interdependancies to survive in their environment.
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Plant Adaptations
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Plants and People
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Biomes
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Water
Learners have a chance to catch water organisms and identify them. The highlight of the learning programme is viewing the animals that they have caught on the screen of the video microscope.
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Biodiversity
The great variety and endemism of plants in the fynbos
is unique. The concept of biodiversity is explored by observing,
sorting and classifying a range of fynbos plants. |
First
time visitors are introduced to Kirstenbosch. The variety
of plant life is explored using the senses. Hands, ears
and noses as well as eyes can be used in the Gold Fields
Centre Garden to find out about plants 
Concepts
such as food webs, photosynthesis, symbiosis, pollination
and seed dispersal, can be explored in the fynbos garden
or forest found at Kirstenbosch. 
Plants
are adapted to the environment in which they live. The external
structure of a range of plants is investigated and linked
to how it helps them survive environmental conditions.
People
depend on plants in a variety of different ways. The uses
of indigenous plants for many everyday products are investigated.
The medicinal, ecological, aesthetic and economic importance
of South African plants are discussed as well as issues
around sustainable use of this valuable resource.
Fynbos,
forest and succulent karoo biomes, as found in Kirstenbosch,
are compared. Geographic and environmental conditions are
discussed.
Water
is a precious resource. It needs to be better understood
and managed to ensure sustainable supplies. Wetlands and
streams in Kirstenbosch are used to study the water cycle,
water quality and diversity of life in water. 
