Month two of our #WESSA100 campaign, brought another wave of inspiring moments from the WESSA community, each a reminder of how caring for the Earth starts with awareness, empathy, and everyday action.
From alien plant awareness to unexpected garden visitors and acts of compassion for wildlife, these stories show how deeply connected we all are to the natural world.
Beautiful but destructive, lessons from nature
At first glance, the bright blooms of Lantana in the Oribi Gorge seem harmless, even beautiful, but beneath the colour lies a quiet threat.
“Beautiful but destructive, the Lantana in full spring bloom is a reminder that not everything vibrant in nature is harmless,” said Morgan Griffiths, WESSA Chief Operating Officer. “Thankfully, most of the walkers I was with today are farmers who recognised it as an alien invasive plant that needs to be rooted out. Caring for the Earth means understanding balance and acting to protect it.”
This reflection reminds us that protecting biodiversity sometimes means making tough choices, and that stewardship begins with knowledge.
A surprise visitor indoors
For WESSA member Paddy Norman, nature’s magic appeared unexpectedly, right at home.
“Just a few days ago, I looked up and there on the wall by my chair was this strange creature, something I’d never seen before. The size of a large moth but actually related to Antlions and Owlflies, this is Cymothales eccentros. Isn’t it wonderful when nature comes to visit and surprise you!”
Moments like these remind us that nature doesn’t just exist “out there”, it finds ways to weave into our daily lives if we simply pause to notice.
Caring for the vulnerable
In the Western Cape, Jo Eyre shared the story of Goosey-Lou, a young spur-winged goose found abandoned and in danger.
“Goosey-Lou was found worryingly close to some hawks flying overhead. He’s small and vulnerable right now, so we’re keeping him warm in our bathtub brooder,” said Jo. “We’ll help him get fledge-ready and hope he’ll rejoin other wild spur-winged geese before long.”
Jo’s story beautifully captures what People Caring for the Earth truly means, compassion in action, no matter the scale.
Share YOUR reason to care
As we move closer to WESSA’s 100-year milestone in 2026, we invite you to add your voice and your moments to the celebration.
- Capture your favourite nature moment, a walk, a creature encounter, or a view that took your breath away.
- Tell us why it matters to you.
- Tag @wessa_sa and include #WESSA100 and #PeopleCaringForTheEarth in your post.
Your story could be featured in our next monthly highlights, helping inspire 100 (and more!) reasons why people care for the Earth.