A nature reserve dedicated to preserving indigenous plants, The Wilds Nature Reserve holds heritage status. According to the vice chairperson of The Johannesburg Heritage Foundation (JHF), Flo Bird, the nature reserve was declared a national monument many years ago and now has the status of a Provincial Heritage Site.
“I am sure that the most important reason for the declaration is the dedication to indigenous South African plant material and as such there are laws governing the removal, for instance, of indigenous trees and so on. I am no expert on this but in order to maintain its status it is essential that the national legislation be upheld.”
The foundation shared this information in response to an article in the Rosebank Killarney Gazette titled Being immersed in nature is local artist’s greatest reward [ Week ending May 13]. In the article, volunteer at The Wilds James Delaney emphasised the importance of community members coming together to uplift local parks.
“What James has done has been nothing short of marvellous in bringing people into the park and making it safe. Most of his improvements have been enormously valuable.
“The task the JHF took on and which has not been able to complete was the repair of the greenhouses. These were of a spectacular and award-winning design, but the work has come to a halt because of a problem with the contractor who is employed, not by City Parks, but by the insurance company after a huge blue gum fell on Plant house Number 1.
The JHF managed to get the next two made secure, but the roof desperately needs replacement and then work on the plants inside should begin,” said Bird.
She added that South Africa has an incredibly rich natural heritage and the people who helped Delaney eradicating black jack for instance were doing a wonderful job ridding The Wilds of an unwelcome weed left by the British army in the Anglo Boer War. “But not all interventions have been correct and moving a yellowwood was one.
“James has established a very fine precedent which communities are following in other parts of the City as the Gazette reported two weeks ago of the James and Ethel Gray Park in, Foundation tackles safety [Week ending April 22]) and there is also the excellent work done by the Zoo Lake Users Committee.
“I think the key to all this is a matter of involvement. Too many Joburg citizens are happy to criticise, but will pass by litter and weeds without making the smallest effort to improve things themselves.”
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