From rubbish dump to stunning garden

Two years ago, the intersection of Kolgans Street and Kestrel Avenue was plagued with illegal dumping, making residents who live nearby fear for their safety, as the area seemed to be heading in the wrong direction.

The Reeds resident Anel Marx however had other plans as she set out to inspire her community to take pride in their neighbourhood.

“Sometimes I think in my heart, maybe this isn’t even special, but then I see how it touches people and it reminds me that it is special.”

Marx, together with her neighbours and community members, helped clear the space and slowly transformed the land next to the intersection into a stunning garden.

“Now we are also cutting the grass that runs along the street. Another neighbour has chipped in and is also helping us cut the grass further on,” she told Rekord.

“That makes two blocks and an intersection that we are actively maintaining, and hopefully the idea catches on and continues to spread.”

Marx explained that the veld was packed with rubbish that had been illegally dumped, including household and garden refuse, building rubble and even a whole toilet.

Much of the dumped material was removed by Marx, with contributions by other community members and her family, before she could get to work planting.

The rubble that she couldn’t remove was incorporated into the garden for added interest, while plant donations from various neighbours and local businesses added to the arrangement.

“We started to extend the planting down the road because people were still trying to dump here. They are still dumping, but there are fewer and fewer spots that are being affected.”

She said that the plants are planted and then they let nature take its course.

“If it doesn’t survive, then it isn’t worth the work to try to keep it alive.”

She wants the garden to extend further along the road but hopes that other residents take it upon themselves to contribute to growing the garden.

“It’s a lot of work, especially in summer when the weeds come out. But we are trying to make it full so that the weeds don’t have the chance to grow.”

In two years, it has proven that it is all worth it.

“One of the residents told me that she doesn’t need to take Kestrel Avenue to go home, but she purposefully takes the road just to come and see the garden. I love that it brings us together.”

Marx’s hard work has not gone unnoticed.

Her neighbour, Jaco Bekker, said that the site used to be an eyesore.

“Seeing what people used to do, dumping here despite having a spot just a few kilometres away, it shows a lack of responsibility.

“The state that it was in can really affect our safety and even our property values,” he told Rekord.

“There’s a sense of pride that seems to be spreading. Anel started this, but our neighbours are all catching on and trying to do their part.

“If we could just get everybody to do a little bit, we can accomplish so much more,” said Bekker.

“I hope that this brings the community together. This is our garden, and I think it represents what we need South Africa to look like. I mean even for those commuting, this creates a barrier where they can safely walk, a place where they can be inspired while they walk. People respect the area more,” he said.

A resident walking by, Beverly van Staden, told Rekord that she thought the garden was a stunning addition to the neighbourhood.

She said that it was uplifting to see projects such as these in her community.

Professor Sidandze said the garden motivated others to keep the area clean.

“A lot of people don’t appreciate beauty. Every time I come past here with my camera, I can’t resist taking some photos,” he said.

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