Emma Pardoe grew up in Somerset West with a dream to enrich her hometown with more opportunities. While Somerset West offered a beautiful lifestyle, Emma felt there were too many things you had to travel to the city to find. On 1 March 2005, she took a leap of faith and launched her own chartered accounting and auditing practice.

With the celebration of Human Rights Day this month, we are shining a light on the local heroes of our village – the organisations that work tirelessly to uplift, protect, and empower those who need it most. These charities, championed by Somerset West locals for Somerset West locals, embody the true spirit of community.

Join us at Fountain Square on 29 March to usher in the new season with a food and pairing festival at this vibrant restaurant hub. Whether you're a wine connoisseur, adrenaline junkie, cocktail-lover, coffee snob, foodie, or all of the above – there’s something for everyone!

The key to reviving the heart of our village is for every resident of Somerset West to be active citizens and to take hands with institutions like the SWCID and the Village Collective and to take the heart of our Village back.

It’s officially been twelve months since Upper Main Road was given a stylish transformation by Dewvest with the renovation and opening of Alexandra Place. So how are we celebrating? With a big Village get-together of course!

Have you taken a stroll down Bright or Caledon Street recently? Did you feel that warm, bubbly sensation emanating from every coffee shop, every smile shared with a stranger and even from the pavement itself? Maybe it’s just the February heat – but we think it’s something more... It’s the Month of Love in the village that you love!

The hot dry days are our biggest stumbling block at this time of the year. We are entering the peak of the heat of summer now. To beat the heat we are continuing to mulch our vegetable plants. Onions, carrots and beetroot manage better in the heat.

The days are getting hotter and we need to be prepared for the extremely hot days that lie ahead. The vegetables that we plan to plant must be chosen carefully as to how they cope with the heat and they should have a shorter maturity period. Green beans, lettuce, leafy greens and radish are fast growers and will be ready for harvesting in autumn.

Nestled at the foot of the Helderberg Mountains, Somerset West is celebrated for its picturesque surroundings and close-knit community. However, like many historic CBDs, it has faced challenges over the years, with a steady decline in its once-thriving centre. Bertus de Waal, MD of the Dewvest Group and the visionary behind the Somerset West Village Collective, saw something different: potential…

At the Village Collective, we believe that true community transformation begins with connection—by sharing stories that inspire, efforts that uplift, and visions that unite. Sir Lowry’s Pass Village embodies the spirit of this mission. Over the past two decades, it has become a place where committed local and international supporters have joined forces to create opportunities for education, nourishment, and community development.

On World Kindness Day, we have the opportunity to come together as a community and support one another through thoughtful, compassionate actions. By using the services of Village Collective’s partners, we can perform acts of kindness that not only brighten the lives of individuals but also strengthen the bonds within our community.

Every year on November 14, the world comes together to recognize World Diabetes Day, an initiative led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) to educate and raise awareness about diabetes. This year, we take a moment to shine a spotlight on how this chronic condition impacts the elderly in our community, particularly those cared for by organisations like the Helderberg Society for the Aged (HSFA).

At the heart of Somerset West’s revitalisation is the Village Collective, a forward-thinking initiative dedicated to transforming the town's central business district into a thriving, inclusive community hub. This mission aligns seamlessly with the values and vision of GraySwan Wealth. 

October is my best month in the garden. It is such a delight to see how everything grows as the daylight hours increase. One can literally see the spinach growing. The garden is looking beautiful. The broad beans are flowering and the pods are fattening up nicely, we picked our first beans last week. They are wonderful for serving as a side to a lamb roast, mashed on toast with a soft poached egg and my favourite broad bean risotto, our staple meatless Monday meal during the season.

As we welcome the warmer spring weather to the beautiful Somerset West, there’s no better time to explore and indulge in the vibrant community offerings. From delicious treats to local food favourites, our local businesses are ready to celebrate the season with some fantastic specials. Whether you’re visiting for the day or a long-time resident, these Village Collective deals are not to be missed!

As tax season looms, residents of Somerset West can benefit greatly from the expertise of Emma Pardoe, a well-established chartered accountant with over 20 years of experience, renowned for providing personalised and professional services that go beyond mere compliance.

With the warmer months on the horizon, there’s no better time to dust off your bike, pump up those tyres, and hit the trails in Somerset West. The Helderberg region, with its mix of lush landscapes, coastal views, and winding mountain paths, offers a haven for cyclists of all levels. Whether you're a road warrior, a mountain biker, or someone who enjoys a leisurely cruise, here’s your guide to making the most of the cycling season as the days grow longer and the outdoors beckon.

We had a huge storm that brought torrential rain, hail and snow. Snow is always good because as it melts it fills rivers and reservoirs which will help to sustain these water sources through the dry summer months. It is only 6°C as write this. It has been a cold, wet winter but signs of Spring are popping up in my garden. The flowering quince has burst into bloom and my bluebells are quite big already. They are just waiting for warmer weather to bud.

Heritage Day in South Africa is a time to reflect on our shared past and celebrate the diverse cultures that have shaped our country. In Somerset West, this day carries extra significance as we honour the town’s unique history while looking toward a future that cherishes the heritage we’ve inherited, but brings with it much needed change and improvements.

The signs of spring are there, with the first blossoms showing their faces on the almond trees. August is a busy sowing month for early summer crops both indoors and out as the days start to get longer.