12 Mar 2026
An audience at the Welcome Glen Farmhouse explored the key factors behind soil health and some real specimens under a microscope from the neighbourhood's very own soil!
On Thursday, 12 March 2026, SmallTalX® welcomed Prof Janion-Scheepers to the Welcome Glen Farmhouse for the next instalment of the Deep South lecture series. Her talk cast a well-deserved spotlight on the often-overlooked importance of soil biodiversity, offering practical and accessible ways to restore and strengthen soil health in our own gardens - thereby supporting the resilience of this foundational component of local ecosystems.
Prof Janion-Scheepers conveyed a deep appreciation for the invertebrate life that animates our soils, sustaining the delicate balance of nutrients that underpins entire ecosystems and food webs. These organisms are so often underappreciated and underrepresented, both in citizen science and in our broader awareness, and the talk opened a vivid window into this essential yet largely unseen world. A highlight of the evening was the hands-on exploration: soil sampled from the Welcome Glen Farmhouse nursery was placed under a microscope, revealing to the audience a remarkable diversity of life thriving just beneath our feet.
Residents of Glencairn and the surrounding areas left the talk with a wealth of practical insights into the hidden world below ground, and a renewed understanding of the vital role played by its smallest inhabitants. Among the many takeaways, one stood out in its simplicity and impact: in fostering more hospitable environments for insects, arthropods, and other soil dwellers, sometimes the most effective action is simply to “leave the leaves.”
SmallTalX looks forward to welcoming Prof Janion-Scheepers back later this year at the Helderberg Nature Reserve.