Short Biography: Frank Woodvine

Originating from Lancashire, Mr. Woodvine was trained and educated in Whales, where he did his diploma in Forestry and started in 1953 with the U.K. Forestry Commission in Rhodesia on rehabilitation of oak woodland, which was heavily exploited during the Second World War. He worked for this organization for 21 years.

The next chapter of his life was at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, where he started his married life in a tent, lived 100km from the nearest town, and worked for Forestry research on Eucalypts and Pines. He was also in charge of training up the African Forest Rangers and in 1962 he became involved in a research project, which focused on conservation, tying in both wildlife and forestry.

When he then became honorary ranger for Zimbabwe, he initiated a field management and fire protection program and trained young individuals to become educated and involved in the initiative. In 1976, Mr. Woodvine was asked to work at the Fernkloof nature reserve, Hermanus, as a botanist, conservationist as well as an ecotourism guide. After many years as superintendant at Fernkloof, his retirement followed in 1995.

Thereafter Mr. Woodvine could not help but to pursue his passion and share his knowledge with a greater audience and founded an ecotourism initiative known as “Nature South” together with winemaker Peter Finlayson. This brought international clients, especially from the U.K. to the tidal pools of places like De Hoop Nature Reserve for an all-round walking, whale and bird watching tour. Some tours were organized for larger groups and one such trip went all the way to Mala Mala in the Kruger National Park.

With 58 years of environmental conservation experience, today still, at the age of 80 years, Mr. Woodvine is actively involved in furthering the environment and promoting the importance of our Cape Floral Kingdom.He has achieved bringing the important issues concerning our heritage to a wider audience by holding lectures for students, training up staff and he has been continuously involved in ecotourism for many years.
Today, part-time environmental consultant and respected botanist, Frank Woodvine, is employed at Bouchard Finlayson since 2005 to manage and coordinate all conservation activities and to advise the different departments on how to become more sustainable.

Scarred and eroded slopes on a part of the farm proved a challenge to rehabilitate, but thanks to Mr. Woodvine’s expertise and activities, the progression toward rehabilitated land and sustainability is sharpened since his employment.

On top of Mr. Woodvine’s involvements on this wine farm at the formidable age of 80, his activities are also centered on voluntary environmental initiatives and as an honorary life member of Hermanus Botanical Society and of Cliff Path Management Group, he passes on his knowledge as an eco- schools education facilitator.
Amongst Woodvine’s discoveries at Bouchard Finlayson in the last year was the identification of many rare species of South Africa’s precious Fynbos Kingdom. One such species called “Bokmakierieriet” was thought to be extinct in the greater Hermanus area. This holds great positive promise for many other species, which are believed to be under threat.

Our national bird, the Blue Crane, which needs large areas of natural habitat for nesting has been keenly observed and Frank Woodvine has made sure not to allow any human activities to disturb the bird by educating farm workers about this special bird.

Bird census has been introduced, owls have been encouraged to thrive by bringing in owl boxes and the control of foraging wildlife on spring vineyards has been implemented by surrounding the property in bonox fencing. Bird control at harvest is affected through an audio system, which broadcasts bird scare calls. Wild life strips have been implemented and removal of alien vegetation together with rehabilitation of the indigenous species have been a success and are ongoing projects for Woodvine.

Resulting also from Frank Woodvines initial involvements, Bouchard Finlayson is a member of the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI) – a partnership between the South African wine industry and the conservation sector, aimed at protecting the Cape’s rich floral kingdom.

The Flower of the week exhibition was yet another one of Woodvine’s youthful ideas!