VIDEO: Durban North Conservancy welcomes new technology for local park
The Bridgevale Park Nature Reserve now boasts the addition of quick response (QR) code tags placed on indigenous trees.
IN recent years, the Bridgevale Park and Nature Reserve in Durban North has been transformed into a safe green space with a 1km oval-shaped track for walkers and nature lovers to enjoy.
The project to beautify and uplift the park was carried out by Enviro Fixers Durban North, the Durban North Conservancy and the City’s Parks Department.
Now the park boasts the addition of quick response (QR) code tags placed on indigenous trees.
Jane Troughton, a member of the conservancy, said the response to the initiative has been met positively.
“Brian Allison, a local resident, was the person who sponsored the tags, and we are so grateful to him as we feel this has elevated Bridgevale’s accessibility, especially to those who enjoy using technology to learn about nature. We’ve put up 10 tags, and our goal, funding permitted, is to install more. We’ve limited the initiative to 10 trees as there are several duplicate species or alien invasive species, which we are in the process of replacing.
“A few schools in the area also utilise this space, and we felt these QR code tags have educational value while adding a little bit of fun. They are very easy to interact with – you simply open your camera and scan the code. Your smartphone then takes you to the South African National Biodiversity Institute website page specific to the species. There you will find additional information on the species of the tree, including its distribution and ecology, which is just fantastic,” she said.
Troughton also touched on the importance of green spaces considering June is National Environment Month.
Besides raising awareness on environmental challenges, the month is also about recognising how we all can become agents for change with our actions.
“One thing that the conservancy and Enviro Fixers have noticed is the need for green spaces. Nature is such a healing force, and so many families are looking for safe and accessible spaces to explore. While Bridgevale Park and Nature Reserve is just one of these spaces, we see how much it means to the community of north Durban. This also shows why we need to protect our green spaces and look after the environment by planting indigenous,” she said.
