HAGEDASHI ESTATE

History

Until 1995 Hagedashi was owned by a descendant of one of the Italian families who arrived in Knysna in 1881 from Genoa, Italy, hoping to establish a silk-spinning industry in the forests of Gouna. Upon their arrival, however, the early settlers were horrified to find no silk production of any kind in progress and neither mulberry trees nor a single silk worm were to be found! They had been deceived!

Hagedashi, as well as the land through which the Estate is accessed, was one of the pieces of land given to the settlers to allow them to establish a means of existence. For many years, parts of the land were used for agricultural purposes (small scale fruit, vegetable and cattle farming), however, these activities were scaled down to a virtual subsistence level during the 1980’s. As human interference on the land decreased, indigenous flora re-established itself.

The most recent owners of Hagedashi (who developed the Estate) immediately set out to eliminate the negative effects of “civilisation” when they purchased the land in 1995. Truckloads of garbage that had accumulated over the years (bottles, tins, plastic, building material) were taken from the land, approximately 150 mature Eucalyptus and 200 pine trees were felled and all invasive alien plants were removed. Within 6 months the bone-dry soil that had been underneath the Eucalyptus trees, began to sprout wetland species and water began to flow.

Control of alien plants has and will continue to remain a challenge at Hagedashi in order to preserve its natural state.

Hagedashi is home to a large variety of birds due to its varied habitats: grassland, forest and forest edge species and some water birds are found, as well as mammals (bushbuck, small buck, lynx, bush pig, vervet monkeys, baboons) and reptiles.

Location

Hagedashi is situated in Eastford, to the east of the Simola Country and Golf Estate, approximately 7km north of the town of Knysna, along the Gouna Road (34º 00’ 35” South, 23º 2’ 38” East).

The Estate is less than a five minute drive away from the Simola Golf and Country Estate and all its facilities and, via the recently completed Simola bypass road, ten minutes away from the Knysna CBD, the Waterfront and Thesen Island and within easy reach to the beaches and all the Garden Route's popular attractions.

Philosophy

Areas of natural vegetation are fast dwindling as development expands along the Garden Route. Unfortunately conservation has in the past played only a subsidiary role in residential developments along the Garden Route.

Hagedashi sets a precedent for low-impact, low-density human encroachment, thus balancing responsible development with sensible conservation ideals within the urban edge.

The fundamental philosophy to this Residential Nature Estate is “tread gently on the land”, thereby contributing to conservation of threatened vegetation which is at the same time habitat to many species from insects to mammals. Appreciation for and interest in the uniqueness and beauty of the Cape’s fauna and flora is growing not only locally, but also internationally. Thankfully the South African authorities are beginning to implement stricter rules and policy guidelines to ensure, inter alia, environmental sustainability and to prevent planning disasters and architectural aberrations along our beautiful coastline!

The Hagedashi development was approved without objections as it is in harmony with all the guidelines and recommendations of the Department of Environmental Affairs.

The Estate offers country living with elegant architecture and all conveniences of a modern lifestyle. Architectural Guidelines and Estate Rules, however, establish parameters that will ensure harmonious co-existence between man and nature.

Who would be the “typical” Hagedashi resident?

Hagedashi appeals to those who are willing to invest a premium in exclusivity and privacy and who are anxious to avoid the intrusive feeling of being on “public display” as is the case in most suburban residential developments. A community of fifteen homeowners shares 25 hectares of natural beauty and, through the Home Owners Association, takes joint responsibility for its sustainability and the survival of its fauna and flora.

Hagedashi does not emulate the leafy suburbs of our cities but rather presents an antithesis to a typical upmarket South African urban neighbourhood.

For those who require a holiday home, Hagedashi offers the feeling of “being away from it all”, immersed in nature whilst on the other hand, its close proximity to the Knysna CBD and all its amenities, also make Hagedashi an ideal location for a primary residence.

The Estate measures just under 25 hectares and comprises two “zones”, viz. a Residential and a Nature Area. 1,65 hectare, or 6,8% of the total area of Hagedashi, have been allocated for “residential” purposes, i.e. it comprises 15 stands with 900m² disturbance area each and private roads. The balance (22,45 hectares) is Nature Area (“Public Open Space”).

Various locations on the site offer views of the Knysna Heads, the lagoon and the Outeniqua mountain range, as well its own and the neighbouring indigenous forest and fynbos areas.

The Residential Area is located in the north-eastern section of the land, this being the section of the land that was previously disturbed by agricultural activity and which therefore can be considered least sensitive. The fifteen stands are spread over an area of 5,5 hectares and are separated from each other by Nature Area, thus ensuring maximum privacy. Eight stands are strung along 450m of the ridgeline (approximately 250m above sea level) of the eastern boundary whilst the remaining seven stands are situated at various levels below on the gradient, which slopes down evenly in a south-western direction to approximately 150m above sea level.

The Nature Area is made up of forest and coastal fynbos thicket mosaic, a small wetland and two dams. Residents can enjoy the floral diversity and scenic beauty of Hagedashi by traversing their land along hiking trails.