20 years of watching over Delta Park
DELTA PARK – Delta Park has been improved over the last 20 years by Shirley Tebbutt and many who have helped her in her task to uplift the park.
For over 20 years Shirley Tebbutt has spent her days at Delta Park where she volunteers her time and energy towards making the park more people-friendly.
She is enthusiastic and excited every time she enters the park and almost always spots things to be done to make the park a better experience for park-goers who descend on the park in their numbers over weekends.
It all began in 1975 when Tebbutt and a friend were walking their dogs in the park that was deemed unsafe at the time and came upon the top dam that was covered by water hyacinths.
“The dam was covered by the hyacinths and that is when we decided to clear it up. The next day my friend and I hired five labourers each and started to clear the dam,” she said.
She explained that hyacinths are hard to remove but after a while they managed to find the best method to remove the plants from the water by using a boat.
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“When the dam was almost cleared I remember a black duck swooped down onto the dam and that was the most beautiful thing ever,” she added. It took over six weeks to clear the dam and Tebbutt explained that residents who were walking by would enquire as to what they were doing and she would, on the spot, ask for a donation.
“The residents have rallied around over the years and many people have pitched in where they could and this has really helped me to do my work in the park.”
Ever since then Tebbutt has volunteered her time at the park and has managed to turn it around.
“Everything is a big job and there is always something that needs to be done, like cutting down bamboo, removing weeds and papyrus.”
She noted that she works alongside Peter Hammond who brings his farming experience to the table.
Chirping birds can be heard all over the park and that is one of the reasons Tebbutt works so hard to keep the eco-system balanced so the birds can call the park home.
Over the years Tebbutt and her helpers have built a bridge with the help of Johannesburg City Parks, organised benches and dustbins as well as creating fencing inside the park.
She also pointed out that residents who make use of the park tended to park anywhere and said that was why the log fencing was so helpful. Details: Shirley Tebbutt etebutt@worldonline.co.za
