The festival starts on Thursday 12 September when expert guest speakers such as Professor Erik Holm, Adriaan van Niekerk and Sue Milton discuss among other things, bees, water quality, irrigation and vegetation. On Friday 13 and Saturday 14 September there will be excursions to identify birds. During these two days there will be field trips to the farm of Meiringspoort Joel Immelman and De Rust koppie. The excursions will known Oudtshoorn botanists Jan Vlok, Annelise Schutte-Vlok, Eric Holm and Louis Jordan. Nature photographer Judd Kirkel will also at the festival. Friday evening, RSG's Hennie Maas, will host an Astronomy session on the farm Numbi Valley. On Saturday afternoon, Professor Gerard Germs, will host a geology tour at Meiringspoort Waterfall. A variety of other readings are also offered, including water-wise gardens by Ernst van Heerden, insects by Professor Erik Holm and scale gas development (also known as fracking) by Jollyn Minnaar. The first festival in September 2012 initiated by former Ruster Dr. Suzanne Delport, currently a pediatrician in Pretoria. The mission of the festival is to draw attention to the Little Karoo three biomes, namely succulent, subtropical forest (thicket) to establish and fynbos. The organizers hope to raise awareness of the region's unique wealth of fauna and flora to achieve, as well as a celebration of conservation awareness to develop. The festival concludes on Sunday morning in the local Dutch Reformed Church, which Vlakteplaas school choir will perform. Those interested can visit the website www.derust.eco.co.za. Full programme available on the website, as well as other contact details. Programme attached for your convenience. For bookings for the field trips, visit to De Rust Koppie, lectures & astronomy session, contact Gwen at bothag3@gmail.com For accommodation visit the website www.derust.org.za For more information please contact Brende at 082 3595 051