Well-known Hartbeespoort environmentalist dies
The body of a well-known conservationist was discovered in her home in Hartbeespoort on 20 September.

Gill Ledger in the wetland swhere she spent much of her time.
Gill Ledger’s body was found in her home in Pecanwood by security personnel. It is not known when she was last seen.
Police have opened an inquest docket.
Ledger (64) was a renowned citizen scientist who had been long involved in the Hartbeespoort Dam Integrated Biological Remediation Programme. In March this year, she made a significant discovery of a microscopic filter feeder, with the grand name of Paradileptus conicus. Dubbed the algae shark, the feeder consumes bacteria and algae.
Environmentalists expressed their sadness over the loss of a passionate conservation activist.
“It was with great sadness we heard of the passing of Gill Ledger, She was a great fighter for conservation around the Hartbeespoort Dam, especially the wetlands which she painstakingly mapped to be conserved, and particularly the one in Pecanwood which she proved was a genuine wetland lost during the building of the golf course. Over the past years, she dedicated her time to restoring it to its former state. We hope the work will continue,” said John Wesson of WESSA Northern Areas Region.
Renowned Water scientist Dr Anthony Turton wrote a tribute to Ledger on his Facebook page. “It saddens me to learn of the passing of Gill Ledger. She was an extremely competent wetland manager with deep insight into microbiota. Her work on the constructed wetlands of Pecanwood Estate was exceptional. She was documenting the different microbiota found in different parts of the wetlands and then linking that to changes in salinity and pH. She was skilled with the microscope and grew an international network of aquatic scientists that helped her identify the new species she was documenting. She was in regular contact with me, keeping me updated on her progress. Those conversations were rich and textured as she explored the biochemical linkages to different water quality. Her knowledge of constructed wetlands was profound. She helped design the wetlands at the Pecanwood golf course, which have become functional tools for the mitigation of human health risk from waters contaminated by cyanotoxin,” he said.