Natures Valley Trust
Education in Plettenberg Bay

The Nature's Valley Trust plans and implements conservation, research, community and educational projects in response to specific environmental issues. A community based conservation organisation established in 2000 to protect the environmental integrity of Nature's Valley and its surrounds.

The current, relatively pristine condition of the area is largely due to the legacy of a few committed individuals, whose commitment we celebrate and dedicate our work to. Nature’s Valley lies on one of the most sought after stretches of South Africa’s coastline and development in the area is occurring at an unprecedented rate. The Nature’s Valley community has the potential to play a role in ensuring that proposed development is appropriate and sustainable and that environmental impact is minimized. In order to achieve this, an involved and proactive community is essential, and this is why the Nature’s Valley Trust (NVT) was established to focus on environmental issues. We normally think of nature’s flagship species as spectacular creatures like elephants and whales. But a butterfly, thought to be extinct and then rediscovered in Nature’s Valley in 1977, is serving as a symbol of the serious difficulties we face in protecting and preserving our environment. To provide a support role for authority organisations relating to the environment. To develop an outreach programme with neighbouring communities. To ensure the future sustainability of the Nature’s Valley Trust’s mission and objectives. Brittany is a Conservation Ecologist and Creative Director at Nature’s Valley Trust. She completed her tertiary studies at the University of Cape Town, majoring in marine biology and ecology during her undergraduate degree and obtaining her MSc. Before starting at NVT she spent a year with CREW (Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers), SANBI, where she gained a plethora of practical botanical experience. Brittany started at NVT as a WWF-SA intern and upon completion of this 2-year development program was offered a permanent position. While at NVT she has become captivated with birds and has consequently qualified as a bird ringer. A career change followed when he became a bird and wildlife rehabilitator at SANCCOB (Cape Town) and Tenikwa Wildlife awareness centre (Plettenberg Bay). Kirwan is the Conservation Educator at Nature’s Valley Trust. He holds a degree in Environment and Development from the University of Stellenbosch. After completing his undergraduate studies, he started volunteering at CapeNature in the Stewardship and Corridor department. While working as a Community Conservation Intern he completed his honors in Integrated Water Resource Management at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). As his internship came to an end, an opportunity arrived at the Nature’s Valley Trust which he grabbed with both hands. This enabled him to continue to live out his passion and dream to help uplift the community. Kellyn began her journey with NVT three years ago as a volunteer and since then has been a member of the team as a post-graduate student. Originally from Jo'burg, Kellyn has since made the Garden Route her home. She studied at Stellenbosch University where she completed her BSc.