Bracken Nature Reserve
| Bracken Nature Reserve | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location in the Western Cape | |
| Location | Brackenfell, Cape Town, South Africa |
| Coordinates | 33°52′42″S 18°42′49″E / 33.8784°S 18.7137°ECoordinates: 33°52′42″S 18°42′49″E / 33.8784°S 18.7137°E[1] |
| Area | 36 hectares (89 acres) |
Bracken Nature Reserve is a 36-hectare (89-acre) piece of protected land in the suburb of Brackenfell in Cape Town, South Africa. [2]
This park preserves badly threatened Cape Flats Sand Fynbos and Swartland Granite Renosterveld vegetation. A diverse array of orchids, succulents and flowering bulbs are among the over 160 plant species that occur here. Of these, ten occur only within the city of Cape Town and are in serious danger of extinction, including Antimima aristulata, cowslip (Lachenalia aloides), canary yellow vygie (Lampranthus glaucus) and carrion flower (Orbea variegate).[3][2] The park is also home to a variety of small mammals, reptiles and amphibians, as well as range of bird species.
There is an indigenous garden at the entrance, and footpaths that take visitors past birdlife and views of the surrounding countryside. The reserve is situated on top of an old quarry and landfill site so gas extraction pipes have had to be installed, to let the excess gases from the decomposing waste escape.[4]