Nature’s diversity in harmony with winemaking

FRANK WOODVINE

Passionate conservationist and botanist

With 58 years of environmental conservation experience, and at over 80 years of age, Mr. Woodvine is still actively involved in furthering the environment and promoting the importance of the Cape Floral Kingdom. With Frank's involvement, Bouchard Finlayson is now, proudly, a World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Conservation Champion – acknowledged as an environmental leader in the industry for our commitment to conservation, responsible production practices, integrated environmental management systems, and spearheading innovations in water, energy efficiency and climate adaptation.

He has been involved part-time at Bouchard Finlayson since 2005, managing and coordinating all conservation activities and improving sustainability. Born in Lancashire, Mr. Woodvine did his diploma in Forestry in Wales before moving to ertwhile Rhodesia to oversee the rehabilitation of oak woodland in 1953. His long legacy of conservation on the African continent includes prioritising flora and fauna alongside forestry, partaking in numerous research projects, lecturing, developing ecotourism, training rangers, being an honorary ranger himself, an honorary life member of Hermanus Botanical Society, member of the Cliff Path Management Group, volunteering on several environmental initiatives, and consulting in conservation and botany.

In 1976, Mr. Woodvine was recruited to the Fernkloof nature reserve in Hermanus as a botanist, conservationist and ecotourism guide. After many years as superintendant at Fernkloof, he retired in 1995. His passion has kept him active in conservation and he has been instrumental at Bouchard Finlayson for the past decade. Among Woodvine’s contributions to the estate is the identification of many rare species of South Africa’s precious Fynbos flora. One such species called “Bokmakierieriet” was thought to be extinct in the greater Hermanus area. This holds great positive promise for many other species, which are believed to be under threat. Under his guidance, wine-making is done in partnership with nature – protecting both the grapes and wildllife. Bird census has been introduced, Blue Crane nesting sites are avoided, owls have been encouraged to thrive by bringing in owl boxes. Wildlife strips have been implemented and removal of alien vegetation together with rehabilitation of the indigenous species have been a success.

Resulting also from Woodvine’s involvement, Bouchard Finlayson is a World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Conservation Champion – acknowledged as an environmental leader in the industry for our commitment to conservation, responsible production practices, integrated environmental management systems, and spearheading innovations in water, energy efficiency and climate adaptation.