Renishaw Hills connects with rhino conservationist for compelling talk
The residents of Renishaw Hills on the mid-South Coast reflect the conservation-minded ethos of this mature lifestyle estate.
This was evidenced by the warm community welcome given to renowned conservationist, Sharon Jessop, when she stopped by to give a talk on Friday, 4 November, as part of her Run Wild with Rhinos expedition.
“We were delighted to learn that Sharon would be passing through Scottburgh and even more excited to discover she was willing to share her time and knowledge with the Renishaw Hills community,” said Phil Barker of Renishaw Coastal Precinct. “As an estate developed on the premise of sustainability and conservation, many of our residents are committed to furthering their knowledge and doing what they can to help the environment and its inhabitants.”
Jessop joined residents for the monthly braai at the Community Centre where she shared insight into her latest undertaking, Run Wild for Rhinos 2022 which kicked off on World Rhino Day, 22 September. This is her second massive undertaking, after setting the Guinness World Record for most consecutive half-marathons by a female – 102 in total – in 2021.
This year’s 85-day, 2900+km running expedition will see her visiting 22 rhino-bearing game reserves – mostly big 5 game reserves - which will be showcased as a reality show with daily live streams on eight social media platforms. This epic undertaking aims to:
· Increase international awareness of the plight of rhinos.
· Introduce credible conservation and anti-poaching initiatives.
· Promote local reserves and hotels.
· Engage with all conservation-minded communities on the way.
She has already completed her journey through the Eastern Cape game reserves and the exquisite wild coast into KZN via the South Coast. After chatting to the Renishaw Hills residents, she will continue along to several other reserves before heading to Mpumalanga and the Kruger National Park, ending at Lebombo Border Post outside the town of Komati Poort on 21 December.
Jessop’s talk forms part of Renishaw Hills’ many conservation-driven talks and projects. The residents recently established the Nature Action Group (NAG) whereby Renishaw Rangers submit photographs and findings of local fauna and flora on the iNaturalist platform – a citizen science undertaking. This is a hands-on approach to conserving the incredible biodiversity of the area.
Renishaw Hills is a coastal estate in Scottburgh that forms part of the 2.6-million-square-metre Renishaw Coastal Precinct. From the start, developers have been committed to the preservation of the natural environment. The team has partnered with the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), guided by environmental consultants at SiVEST, to restore the natural wetlands within the Mpambanyoni Conservation Development.
