biodiversity
Schaapvley (2 414ha in size) was later
proclaimed as the Atherstone Private Nature
Reserve on 27 January 1960.
Over time the following farms were also
acquired:
Zuurverdiend 167 KP 1930
Summerfield 72 KP Unknown
Summerfield North 70 KP 1935
Moorland 47 KP 1960All six farms were then game fenced as a
unit in 1975 totalling 13 576ha.
Unmarried, with no children and living
alone, Norman died tragically in 1989,
willing the above farms to the then Transvaal
Nature Conservation Department. In 1990
the reserve created then was formally
named the Atherstone Nature Reserve in
his honour and included the addition of
the farm Verpoort 161 KP, which helped
increase the reserve’s size by a further
2 708ha to 16 284ha (the current extent
of the state-owned holding).
The Atherstone Collaborative Nature
Reserve was created in 1994 after
incorporating the following privately-owned
land:
Frankfort 69 KP 2 391ha
Dieplaagte 61 KP 1 638ha
Vetboom 68 KP 621ha
Jackalskraal 45 KP 73ha
Groengoud 162 KP 1 415ha
Grootvlei 160 KP 604haThis brought the total size of the reserve
up to its current 23 026ha. >>
Impala (Aepyceros melampus).
Photo © Albie Venter