Nobody looks after Delta Park like Shirley Tebbutt, Peter Hammond, Elizabeth Gettliffe and Marilyn Ravenscroft do, at least among its volunteers.
All four have been actively involved in the park for over 10 years and their work has ranged from removing invasive or problematic plants to building and rebuilding bridges, fixing water pipes and storm water drains, paving pathways and parking lots, installing dustbins and removing litter.
“I walk here regularly and feel I owe something,” Gettliffe said.
“It is a lovely park and someone needs to help.”
Hammond said he volunteers because he likes the park and if he had more money and time he would do more.
“I love this place,” said Tebbutt, who is also the publisher of Delta Park’s online newsletter, the Delta Park Dam Clean Up.
“I volunteer because I am passionate about the park.”
Ravenscroft claimed she volunteers at the park because Tebbutt’s enthusiasm for it, is infectious.
The four walk through the park everyday with their dogs, to assess what needs to be done.
According to Tebbutt the park was regarded as unsafe about 10 years ago, having been the place of muggings.
“We got people to come to the park, and come with their dogs. Then there was an explosion of people and the park is now much safer.”
Resident Manager of the Delta Environmental Centre Geoff Lockwood said the group had responded to a great deal of problems.
“Without them the park would look a lot more tatty,” he said. “I appreciate them.”
The group is currently working on removing an invasive plant called Verbena, which is indigenous to South America and if left unchecked might cause many of the birds in the park to leave, but at the same time the group is also facing the challenge of convincing park users to pick up after their dogs.
“It is the easiest thing in the world,” Ravenscroft said.
“But convincing people to do it is not easy.”
Details: Delta Environmental Centre 011 888 4831, Shirley Tebbutt etebbutt@worldonline.co.za
