The Spaanschemat River is surrounded by steep slopes that are covered in deep indigenous Southern Afrotemperate Forest.

At the lower end of the reserve is an open piece of land known as “the Meadow” where fruit trees remain from earlier cultivation.

Several hundred plant species have been identified here, including the striking Silvertree (Leucadendron argenteum) and Erica phylicaefolia.

Invasive alien plants are a problem; as such weeds threaten both the indigenous forest and the fynbos.

[2] Ancient trails used by Khoi-khoi herders ran through this patch of land, and when the Dutch arrived they established a woodcutter's post here.