After the hustle and bustle of living and working in the city, a patch of greenery that you can visit in your neighbourhood goes a long way.
Residents of Boskruin not only enjoy a park filled with trees and manicured lawns, they also enjoy the view of the Boskruin Koppie, noticeably one of the few green lungs of the City of Johannesburg.
According to the City of Johannesburg , the City is one of the greenest cities in the world and boasts the largest man-made urban forest. Satellite images of the City show vast forests of trees and greenery. The Boskruin Koppie is one of the protected areas in the city, alongside the famous Melville Koppies Nature Reserve, Delta Park, Emmarentia Dam, the Johannesburg Botanical Garden and Golden Harvest Park.
Here are a few reasons, according to the residents, why they especially love the koppie:
Dolf Geyser: It is the last piece of undisturbed nature in the North.
Megan Kate Ras: Our children love feeding the bunnies and dassies!
Michelle Vermaak: It’s the prefect place to take my son to teach him about animals and wildlife. A beautiful ecosystem that gives families some quality time together.
We need to go! #BC #Boskruin #Boskruin_Koppie @pixiepaige202 @Hannah_vC pic.twitter.com/SpFfjMTX
— Ryan Dantu (@RKD999) December 23, 2012
Russell Van Der Weide: It is a natural habitat for so many forms of wildlife. Also a beautiful backdrop for many homes.
Marlise Du Plessis: We make a point of driving past the park area after a busy day; the bunnies always manage to restore our sense of calm and serenity!
Amanda Botoulas Enne: It’s the landmark of our community. No matter what direction you drive into the area from, you can see the koppie and you know you’re home!
Susan Kaiser: Before I go to work I see our precious animals and I smile and have a good start to my day. After work I come home and I see the bunnies and all my hardships from work dissipate. I love this area and feel so very blessed that I have the opportunity to live in this area that we share with our animals.
Barbara Irene Robertson: It’s a symbol of stability and peace in the daily churn of life. Driving home and seeing the setting sun highlight each rock and tree lifts my soul. It’s immeasurably important to me and my family.
Nicole Rowan Vorster: My parents have lived in the same house for 32 years. Back in 1984 there were hardly any houses and we climbed the koppie every weekend. Even though over the years the area has developed there, there has always been respect for the koppie.
Does your neighbourhood have a special place where you can still enjoy nature? Let us know by commenting below. We would love to hear from you.