IT HAS been called Fish Hoek’s best kept secret... hidden at the outskirts of the town is a wetland haven, teeming with birds and other wildlife such as mongoose.

Even otters are thought to be breeding in the dam of the Silvermine Wetland Conservation Area. Porcupines and Cape Grysbok have been spotted at night.

A 1.8 kilometre circular path winds between the reeds, used by dog walkers and joggers. The dogs help to keep the area safe, and visitors feel reasonably safe walking in the wetland.

Most recently, nine new illustrated colour boards have been added along the pathway and two new signboards have been added near the Main Road.

These were made possible by a R25 000 donation from the Rowland and Leta Hill Trust.

The group will keep these boards updated with information about flowers and animals relative to the season.

Terry Rothwell explains that about a 100 years ago the area was just sand dunes, with the river following a meandering path. Dykes were built in 1902 and 1925 to channel the river. Originally some plates from the Kakapo Wreck, that occurred on Noordhoek beach in 1902, were used to channel the river and remnants of this can still be seen.

When the railway was built it became necessary to make sure that the river stayed on one course.

The Silvermine River Group was formed in the 1980s to try and persuade the City not to build a canal to control the river, but rather to make it a more natural feature.

In 2000 a Friends’ group called the Riverine Rovers, under the auspices of the Friends of Silver Mine Nature Area (FOSNA), took over from the Silvermine River group.

They are a small group of neighbouring residents and they nurture the area, clearing invasive plants, maintaining paths and even picking up dog poo.

“Despite much asking we only have seven reasonably regular volunteers with a couple of visitors who help us with this work,” says Rothwell.

Councillor David d’Alton praised the efforts of the residents, calling it a “marvellous community initiative”.