Invest in Nature: Parks Department and school work to restore green spaces

URBANISATION has resulted in a loss of natural habitats, and to expand the concept of healthy verges, the City’s Parks Department now runs an annual verge competition which encourages residents to improve and ‘green’ their verges.

Kloof Conservancy chairperson Paolo Candotti said street verges are urban spaces that have been neglected as potential ‘green spaces’.

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“In the more affluent suburbs, street verges tend to be generously wide and, by and large, have been transformed into sterile lawns maintained by the residents or by the ‘brush-cutting’ brigade from the municipality.

“The eThekwini Municipality, through its Parks Department, has recognised the potential for verges to be valuable habitats for indigenous flora and fauna and also to help create greener and more eco-friendly suburbs.”

According to Candotti, a Pilot Project was started in 2018 by the Parks Department under the guidance of Lance Rasmussen (now retired), where ‘No Mow’ areas were agreed upon with residents in Shongweni to protect the rare grassland orchid, Disperis woodii, from being destroyed by verge maintenance.

The project has been re-initiated recently by Zeeh Cele and Martin Clement from the Parks Department who have urged conservancies in eThekwini to take this one step further by encouraging the re-wilding of street verges, where appropriate, to protect indigenous species and re-establish habitats which have been destroyed by urbanisation.

“Re-wilding is a form of ecological restoration aimed at increasing biodiversity and restoring natural processes. While human intervention may be involved, re-wilding aspires to reduce human influence on ecosystems,” explained Candotti.

The Kloof Conservancy is highly supportive of the concept of re-wilding and has encouraged residents to engage, where appropriate, and look at ways of converting their verges to more natural habitats.

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Forest View Primary School is also on board.

“The school started a verge project a number of years ago with the assistance of the Kloof Conservancy and has decided to revitalise and expand their project in line with the new municipal initiative.

“The School Governing Body has engaged with the community and advised them on why the project is being undertaken as often ‘wild’ grasslands can be seen in a negative light when individuals prefer ‘neat’-looking gardens.

“Fortunately, the school and most neighbours do understand the value of restoring our lost habitats and helping nature, and we look forward to a stunning display come spring!” said Candotti with confidence.

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