Action for Biodiversity Conservation TALKS A VIDEOS There is much more to Zebras and Dolphins than meets the eye. Come and get the full story in two excellent videos: - Zebra - The Trailblazers (30 min, BBC) and Dolphins - The Wild Side, (30 mins. Natural World) Monday 13 March '00, 5:30 p.m. at the National Museums of Kenya, In the Louis Leakey M. Hall. (There will be transport to town afterwards) SUCCULENT/A, Talk on Plectranthus Saturday 1 April, 10:00 a.m. To be given by Catherine Lukhoba, a plant systematist at Nairobi University. This will be held in the Botanic Sarden office situated beyond the front of the National Museum on the right hand side as the road goes to the left. Thereafter a coffee break at the Museum cafeteria, to be followed by a walk through the Botanic Sarden. WHAT'S NEWI Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Tree House The tree house is located in the old sand quarry approximately 2.5km from the Kenya Wildlife Service Visitor Centre. It is a simple platform perched about 8m up in a Hymenaea verrucosa, 'mtandarusi' or 'Gum Copal' tree, with the decking made from purchased cedar. The hardwood steps made from confiscated timber are supported by a Dialium orientate, 'mpepeta' tree. The tree house is open to the elements but the broken canopy of the Sum copal tree gives adequate shade most of the time. The view from the platform is out over the sand quarry that was mined in 1970 - 1988 by Kenya Glass to extract the pure white silica sand that was used in glass making. After the extraction operation closed, the Forest Department tried replanting with Cassia siamia, but with little success due to the poor fertility of the soil. A few specimens are still in evidence throughout the quarried area. However, the pools do fill in the rainy season and provide an ideal habitat for a variety of water birds as well as over 17 species of frog. Raptors including African Fish Eagle, Great Sparrowhawk and African Harrier Hawk often pass overhead and at dusk Bat Hawks are on the wing. Constructed in November 1999 this is the first joint venture of the Friends of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Management and Conservation Project. Andy Payne, an A Rocha Kenya volunteer, did all the construction with the aid of two ASF casuals. The Project paid for all the materials while Turtle Bay Beach Club as a Friend of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest provided for Andy S food and accommodation. Bob Garbett, a Club guest, donated screws from England, and Van Davis, also a Friend, lent his chain saw. Basic information Location: Sand quarry, 2.5km from Visitor Centre. Daytime visiting: Free of charge, but donations for maintenance welcome at Visitor Centre. Overnights in Tree House: Ksh 200 per person, booking and payment at Visitor Centre, (tel: 0122 32102) Daytime parking: Carpark A or Carpark B at forest plantation boundary Night time parking: Car park C at Elephant track junction Services: Bush toilet close to Carpark C NOTE: All other requirements must be provided by overnighters and all rubbish must be removed from site. NATURE KEN'/A, P. O. Box 44486, Nairobi. Tel; 749957 / 746090 Fax: 741049 E-mail: eanhs@africaonline.co.ke I ACTIVITIES FRIENDS OF NAIROBI ARBORETUM Annual Seneral Meeting The Friends AGI'h, will be held at the /trboretum on Saturday 11 March from 11:00 a.m. Bring a picnic. COMPOST COURSE FOR 6ARDENERS Gardeners will learn how to turn the waste from kitchen, trees, and other rubbish into a useful substance that can be used to improve gardens. To be held at the Nairobi /Arboretum on Monday 20 March, from 9.30 a.m. meeting at the main gate at 9:00 a.m. Charges are 250/-.