Waterways and sangomas

Woven baskets in the indigenous garden are made from vanwykshout (Bolusanthus speciosus), one of South Africa’s most eye-catching indigenous trees, often referred to as the tree wisteria. It is used by a company called Baskets from Africa, which provides much-needed employment for rural women who weave wondrous creations from the branches.

In accordance with his Zulu custom and status, Elliot was instructed by his ancestors to educate people on the conservation of traditional healing plants. He tends his own specialised herb garden at Fordoun, in which there are over 130 varieties of plants. Many of these are used in products such as creams, body butters, sprays and oils. Elliot and Jon Bates are committed to sustainable propagation and harvesting.

One of the main residence garden gazebos, constructed from local stone under thatch. A gloriously cool and quiet spot to enjoy the abundance of birds and insect life, the gazebo is framed by two Mermaid climbing roses.

The large north-facing garden is bounded by rockeries with a mixture of exotic and indigenous plantings. Most of the garden design was carried out by Lady Nora Usher, who created ‘the closest she could to her perfect English garden’.

The pond in the hotel and spa gardens is a wetland environment. The surrounding farm conservation area is a breeding site for highly endangered wattled cranes, represented here in metal. These creations are made from scrap oil drums.

Soothing to the soul, water splashes gently from the fountain, beyond which the big lawn opens up over wetlands towards the pastures and distant hills surrounding Mount West.

A lime-cured oak table on the north-facing verandah of the main residence is regularly used for entertaining. Leading from the verandah is the big lawn, an expanse of two hectares.

An Albertine rose, planted over 60 years ago and now the size of a small tree, provides shade and old-fashioned charm for a garden picnic spot. Albertine is a vigorous rambler that tends to fade as it ages, but it has a strong perfume and is an asset to any garden. At Fordoun there are over 500 rose plants; the biggest challenge is protecting them against duiker antelope, who love them as much as the owners do.

The main homestead of this property, Fordoun, in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, was built in the 1920s. Later the farm was bought and the homestead altered by Sir George and Lady Usher in 1949. It was further altered by the present owners, Jon and Micheline Bates, who inherited the property. A few years ago the adjoining farmyard was converted into a boutique hotel and spa. The conversion included all the original sheds, barns, dairy and living quarters, some of which had been built as far back as the 1860s.

The sound and ambience created by running water pervade the entire estate. There are seven points of water pouring into ponds or running along channels, with gurgling falls. The water is sourced from a nearby lake where one small pump pushes the water to a point from which it detours into the individual features. Gravity leads the water back to a central collection point, from which it returns underground to its original source.

Elliot Ndlovu, a sangoma (Zulu spiritual healer) and inyanga (medicinal healer) was called to his profession in 1998. Elliot and Jon Bates have been friends for many years and share a passion for conservation and the controlled, judicious use of indigenous, endangered plants.

‘In the African traditional medicinal trade, most plants are gathered from the wild, resulting in many being threatened with extinction.’

JON BATES