Support for indigenous planting in Westville grows
After indigenous plants were removed from an island at a Westville intersection last week, residents were 'disturbed' by the move and called for indigenous plants to planted.
WHEN dozens of large, flowering aloes were removed from an island at the intersection of Attercliffe and Jan Hofmeyr Road recently, the Westville community was sent into an uproar.
The situation was further exacerbated when it was alleged the Parks Department would replace the indigenous plants with exotics.
“Just when we have heard that our insect species are declining (which has a snowball effect on all living beings), we were horrified to find the local Parks Department digging up all the Aloe chabaudii and Agapanthus praecox at the intersection,” said the Westville Conservancy in a post on social media.
In the same post it noted the department would replace the plants with Bromeliads, a flowering plant that is native to the tropical Americas.
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Concerned resident, Evan Roberts said, “In this time of climate and environmental stress, surely the municipality should be doing all they can to protect the natural environment and not destroy it? They are presently replanting with predominantly exotic species which give birds, bees and insects no benefit whatsoever. The municipality should be setting the example.”
The local conservancy was able to rescue many of the plants that were removed from the island at the intersection. The plants will be relocated across the Westville area.
Three days after the community stood up and made their voices heard, the local Parks Department was back on site and planted aloes.
The Westville Conservancy’s chairman and avid conservationist, Jean Senogles, said “It was rumoured that Bromeliads would replace the flowering aloes, and I am thrilled to see that Kniphofia (Red hot pokers) and Aloes have now been planted in the area. In line with the current trends, we anticipate that the rest of the area will be filled with indigenous plants.”
The eThekwini Municipality failed to respond to questions by the time of going to print.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
