Environment

Noordhoek is situated at the axis of a unique floral kingdom; the smallest of six in the world– the Cape Floral Kingdom.

Two major components of this floral kingdom are recognised: heathland and non-heathland. Interestingly, in the Noordhoek valley, we have both.

Heathland occurs in the mountains and non–heathland (in this case, Strandveld) occurs down in the valley.

These are two quite different vegetation types, based largely on soil nutrient status, and they have different origins and structures. Where these two vegetation types adjoin there is ecological overlap, a “tension” zone.

There are few places on the Peninsula where this occurs, so the Noordhoek valley, from this point, is rather unusual.