On the 26th February 2022, the Ida’s Valley Nature Area (IVNA) and neighbouring historical Stellenbosch suburb of Ida’s Valley, will play host to it’s first ever trail running race, and in doing so officially become part of the six-stage Trail Series® Super League planned for 2022.
The Ida’s Valley is steeped in history, being one of the earliest rural settlements in the Stellenbosch area. Tucked away out of sight, and out of mind, is a portion of municipal land that was allocated as a nature reserve, but sadly never maintained. The area was, until 2020, in a very dilapidated & unhealthy state.
Then, during lockdown, a handful of Ida’s Valley community visionaries said enough is enough, and began the process of reclaiming the Ida’s Valley Nature Area for the good of their community. And so, the Ida’s Valley Community Non-profit organization was started. What they have done in such a short space of time is nothing short of miraculous - from cleaning up the mountains of litter in the area, to maintaining trails, alien clearing and beginning the slow process of rehabilitating the indigenous vegetation.
Bordering the IVNA are three community schools - the Ida’s Valley Primary, the Lückhoff High School and the Bruckner de Villiers Primary School, collectively with over 3,000 learners. The start & finish of the race will be hosted on the Ida’s Valley Primary School grounds, being just a stone's throw from the nature area.
Thanks to the support of WWF South Africa, the event will contribute financially to the ongoing success of the Ida’s Valley Community NPO.
For more on the event: www.trailseries.co.za