TheMilnerton Racecourse Nature Reserve, formerly also known as Royal Ascot Conservation Area, is situated in Royal Ascot,Milnerton,South Africa.[1] It consists of the land inside the tracks of the formerMilnerton Racecourse and is now managed by theCity of Cape Town's Environmental Resource Management Department.[2]
The land inside the track of theMilnerton Racecourse has remained relatively untouched by development[3] as well as free of invasive alien plants due to the removal of tall alien trees that would obstruct views of the running horses.
TheMilnerton Racecourse Nature Reserve comprises two non-contiguous natural areas separated and surrounded by the up-market residential development of Royal Ascot. The management of these two areas resides with theCity of Cape Town as the landowner. This is accomplished through theEnvironmental Management Committee which comprises several stakeholders including the Royal Ascot Master Property Owners Association and Gold Circle (owners of theMilnerton Racecourse). TheEnvironmental Management Committee is responsible for the implementation of theEnvironmental Management System.[1]
TheEnvironmental Management Committee was established as a condition of the approval of the application for rezoning of theMilnerton Racecourse land (Erf 25939) from Private Open Space to Sub-divisional Area, by the local authority,City of Cape Town: Blaauwberg Administration in terms of the Land Use Planning Ordinance No 15 of 1985 and by the Department of Environmental and Cultural Affairs and Sport in terms of the Environmental Conservation Act No 73 of 1989. The subdivided erf 25939 is now known as the Royal Ascot Development.[1]
Because of the botanical importance of this conservation area, botanists recommended that the southern portion of the racetrack not be opened to the public. The northern portion is accessible to the public where there is a footpath. Access to take dogs on a leash through this area was allowed in the past, but now dogs are no longer allowed there.[3]
TheMilnerton Racecourse Nature Reserve has an unusualgeology consisting of neutral to slightly acidic sand onferricrete. It is one of the last natural habitats situated on ferricretes, from where the name Ysterplaat is derived.[3] Thevegetation comprisesCape Flats Sand Fynbos, although some elements ofCape Flats Dune Strandveld also occur here.[1] There are 232 recorded plant species of which 12 have “Red Data” status includingCliffortia ericifolia,Hermannia procumbens ssp.procumbens,Leucadendron levisanus,Acrolophia bolusii andLampranthus stenus.[3]
There are two smallwetlands in the area, but during winter several more small temporarywetlands develop, providing habitat for more than 70 bird species. At least 10 species ofbutterflies andmoths have been recorded. There was a small population ofsteenbok, but they have disappeared from the area. There is however still a population ofgrysbok in both the northern and southern parts of the reserve.[3]
