Sprucing up the spruit

SANDTON – People came out in their numbers to support this year's Spruit Day cleanup from Alberts Farm to Paulshof.

Bryanston Riverclub Community Forum encouraged community members to assist them in cleaning up the area around the Belgrave Low Water Bridge on 16 September.

Another successful Spruit Day was held on 16 September, with more than 650 volunteers taking part from 28 residents’ associations and special interest groups at various locations along the Braamfontein Spruit.

The Sandton Chronicle visited four sites on the day to spot residents, employees of City Parks, security companies, Scouts, members of the Community Policing Forum and residents’ associations lending a hand to plant trees, remove waste, install bollards and restore the beauty of the spruit.

Natasha Hultzer and Julia Iles of Brescia House School get their hands dirty to clean up the spruit on 16 September. Photo: Sarah Koning

At the Field and Study Park in Parkmore, residents repainted the dinosaur structure located in the park and also joined recyclers who live on the other side of the spruit to clear rubbish located along the stream. Rose Johnson of the Friends of Field and Study Park said 68 trees were planted, thanks to a donation from City Parks.

Parkmore resident Craig Quiding said he came along to support Spruit Day with his teenage son Cameron, who saw this as an opportunity to do community service. “It is important to have a community spirit and great to have the opportunity to get involved in helping our community here,” said Quiding

Recyclers team up with Parkmore residents to clean up the spruit at the Field and Study Park in Parkmore on 16 September. Photo: Sarah Koning

Community Policing Forum chairman Rob Cumming was seen installing 150 bollards with employees of Bryanston East Community Forum in Hans Crescent. “We are installing these bollards for the purpose of stopping illegal dumping in this area,” said Cumming.

At the Scout Hall on the corner of The River Road and Hans Crescent, The Bryanston East Community Forum, 1st Bryanston Scouts, members of the City Parks extended public works programme, Fidelity, and schoolchildren of Brescia House School were present, filling bags with waste to clear the spruit.

Heather Darby, Morag Lewer, Karl Meissner and Justin Jonckheer stand behind the bags of litter they collected along the section of the spruit near the Belgrave low water bridge on 16 September. Photo: Sarah Koning

Member of the policing forum and Bryanston East Community Forum, Janet Sutherland said, “I am a community-minded person and we need to get involved and show that we are community-spirited and create awareness of the spruit and the organisations trying to help.”

Members of the Bryanston Riverclub Community Forum (BRCF) were located slightly further along the spruit at the Belgrave Low Water Bridge.

Craig Quiding assists director of the Friends of Field and Study Park, Rose Johnson, in painting the dinosaur at the Field and Study Park on Spruit Day. Photo: Sarah Koning

Member of the Spruit Day organising committee, Karl Meissner, said more than 100 volunteers were present at the low water bridge on the day to clear litter, plant 25 trees and cut back bushes. “The initiative is about people getting to know their neighbours and building a sense of community,” said Meissner.

Morag Lewer of the Bryanston forum said she arranged year-round maintenance of the 2.5km area around the spruit with assistance from local businesses and contributions from the Bryanston forum.

Isaac Ngoma, Alex von Heynitz and Matchona Bondera do their bit to clean up the spruit on 16 September. Photo: Sarah Koning

Spruit Day organiser Meghan Perry said this year’s Spruit Day initiative stretched from Alberts Farm through to Paulshof, with volunteers collecting more than 1 000 bags of litter. She was pleased with the increased participation of the community this year and hoped that even more spruit users would get involved next year.