Elderly show their passion for the environment

SONNEGLANS – It was a glorious day to clean up Pampoenspruit on 24 August.

The residents of Sonneglans Park Retirement Village made it their mission on the day to ensure that the green belt was looking its best through their efforts of cleaning it up.

For those who either walked their dogs or jogged along the Spruit that morning, it was a sight to behold as they witnessed the community’s elderly cleaning the park without question.

Clad in their wellington boots and clothes they were ready to get dirty in, a group of about 12 village residents spread along the spruit and cleared it of any rubbish and discarded goods.

For them, this green belt is more than just another free space in the community, rather it’s the view they wake up to in the mornings, a view they get to look at as they enjoy their favourite beverage and not forgetting, this is place they get to take a stroll along as they catch up with a friend. Most importantly though, Pampoenspruit is known for its wildlife, which further implored the retirement village residents to do their best to safeguard the well-being of the multitude of birds that constantly flock to the spruit.

Organiser of the clean-up, Ann Glass, said the green belt used be such a beautiful space and it has slowly become all but a shadow of what it once was. So, it must have been such a joy for her to get a great response from fellow villagers who eagerly pledged themselves for the clean-up.

Ward 101 councillor Dalu Cele, who also helped clean up the spruit, said this was the residents’ way of helping to keep their community clean. Cele was also pleased to see that Joburg City Parks and Zoo had cut down most of the invasive trees found along the spruit, adding that this will help enhance the environment as this spruit is also a bird sanctuary. “I am encouraged by the elderly’s enthusiasm and passion for the environment.”

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